Duomo di San Rufino, Assisi 
View of the Duomo di San Rufino from the castle. Click to enlarge and see our Assisi Duomo Photo Gallery for many more photos.
West facade and piazza.
Italian tourists pause in the piazza of San Rufino.
Closer look at the beautiful west facade.
Central portal, with sculptures of eagles, the Lamb of God, and zodiacs.
Central tympanum sculpture, featuring Christ and a nursing Virgin Mary.
The 11th-century campanile (bell tower) is the oldest part of the church.
Interior, with glass plates for viewing excavations beneath.
Font in which St. Francis and St. Clare were baptized.
Built in the 12th century after a miraculous vision by the local bishop, the cathedral of Assisi (Assisi Cattedrale; Duomo di San Rufino) is not anywhere near as famous as the Basilica di San Francesco, but it is well worth seeking out for its beautiful Romanesque facade and historic font.
History
The Duomo's piazza is believed by some historians to be the site of Assisi's Roman forum. The first church on this spot may have been built as early as the 5th century. Ever since its foundation it has been dedicated to St. Rufino, the 3rd-century bishop who brought Christianity to Assisi and was martyred here.
In 1028, Assisi's bishop witnessed a miraculous event (the details of which were not recorded) and had the old church torn down and a Romanesque one built to replace it. It was accompanied by a stout bell tower built over a Roman cistern, which still stands today.
In 1134, however, another bishop had an even greater miraculous vision, and the century-year-old church was flattened to make way for the present structure. Only the bell tower was retained from the 11th-century building. In the century it took to build the new church, the Romanesque styling of the lower two-thirds of the facade gave way to Gothic fashion in the top third.
The interior was remodeled in 1571 following structural damage.
What to See
The Duomo's west facade is mainly Romanesque, and features highly decorative friezes, lions and griffins guarding the doors, wheel-shaped rose windows, and a classical arcade of slender colonettes. The Gothic top third is rather plain, decorated only with a pointed blind arch.
The interior is mainly notable for the font in which St. Francis, St. Clare, and Emperor Frederick II were baptized (on the right inside the entrance). The altar bears paintings of the Crucifixion and the Deposition.
A door at the end of the left aisle leads to the Museo della Cattedrale, which preserves detached frescoes by Puccio Capanna, more works by Dono Doni, and triptychs by L'Alunno and Matteo da Gualdo along with a small archaeological collection.
You can enter the cathedral crypt from the door to the right of the facade; its rough vaulting and Ionic columns are, along with the bell tower, the only surviving bits of the 11th-century cathedral.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Duomo di San Rufino; Assisi Duomo; Assisi Cathedral; Cathedral of St. Rufino |
| Location: | Assisi, Umbria, Italy |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Dedication: | St. Rufino |
| Category: | Cathedrals; World Heritage Sites |
| Features: | Romanesque Sculpture |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 1134 |
| Architecture: | Romanesque |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 43.070208° N, 12.617803° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Address: | Piazza San Rufino, 06081 Assisi, Italy |
| Phone: | 075-812-283 |
| Hours: | Cathedral: daily 7am-noon, 2pm-sunset Crypt and Museo: Mar 16-Oct 15: Thu-Tue 10am-1 and 3-6pm (Aug 10am-6pm); Oct 16-Mar 15: 10am-1pm and 2:30-5:30pm |
| Cost: | Free |
| Photography: | Permitted |
Travel Resources
- Assisi Map - our detailed interactive map of Assisi, plus hand-picked links to more
- Assisi Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
- Assisi Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and activities in Assisi
- Assisi Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Assisi Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Duomo di San Rufino. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Assisi Map.
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visits (April 21-25, 2008).
- Frommer's Florence, Tuscany & Umbria, 5th Edition.
- St. Rufino Cathedral - Assisi Online
More Information
- Traveler Reviews of Duomo di San Rufino - TripAdvisor
Last updated on November 30, 2009.
