The Basilica of Assisi for Little Explorers

An adventure for children and families to discover the Basilica of San Francesco, where every stone tells a fantastic story!

Introduction: The House of Saint Francis

Hello, little explorers! Are you ready for an extraordinary adventure? We are standing in front of the Basilica of Saint Francis, a magical place where a truly special man is buried. Did you know that Francis was a rich young man who one day decided to give everything away to help the poor? When he died on October 3, 1226, it's said that even the sky wept! Two years later, the Pope himself laid the first stone of this marvelous basilica. Imagine that: Francis, who loved simplicity so much, now has such a large and colorful house! It's like a massive picture book made of stones and colors. Look up: each painting tells a part of his extraordinary adventure. One day, Francis heard a crucifix speak (yes, you heard right, SPEAK!) that said to him: "Go and repair my house." What do you think he thought at that moment? Would you like to hear an object speak to you?

Piazza Inferiore: The Square of Wonders

Here we are in the Piazza Inferiore! Did you know that this square holds a secret? Before becoming such a beautiful place, it was called "Hill of Hell" because it was a frightening place where wrongdoers were punished! But the Pope decided to transform this sad place into one full of hope. Let me tell you a funny story: during the construction of the basilica, a bricklayer fell from high up on the scaffolding. Everyone thought, "Poor guy!", but guess what happened? Saint Francis appeared as if by magic and caught him in mid-air, gently laying him down on the ground! The bricklayer got up without even a scratch, telling everyone how Francis had saved him. Incredible, right? Look around: so many people from all over the world come here every day! Can you guess where they come from? Try to guess the languages you hear being spoken!

Facade of the Lower Basilica: The Magic Door

Look at how beautiful this facade is! It's like the cover of a magical book! Do you notice anything particular? It is very simple, isn't it? There are no extravagant decorations or complicated statues. Do you know why? Because St. Francis loved simple things! The door has a round arch that invites you to bow your head slightly as you enter. It's as if the basilica is saying to you, "Be humble like Francis!" The pink stone you see comes from Mount Subasio, the large mountain overlooking Assisi. Francis loved nature immensely and even wrote a song, the Canticle of the Creatures, where he thanked God for the sun, the moon, the wind, and even the fire! Game: touch the stone of the facade... is it cold or warm? It changes color as the sun illuminates it in different ways throughout the day... have you noticed?

Basilica Inferior: The Church of Hidden Colors

Wow! We've entered the Basilica Inferior! Wait for your eyes to adjust to the darkness... and then... SURPRISE! Look at all the colors! It's like being inside a giant storybook! Did you know that the body of Saint Francis stayed here for two years before being moved to the crypt below? Imagine the friars tiptoeing right where we are now! The walls are all painted by incredibly famous artists: Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini... they were like the superstars of the Middle Ages! Look to the right: there's the story of Saint Martin, a knight who one winter day met a poor man shivering from the cold. Do you know what he did? He took his sword, cut his cloak in half, and gave a part to the poor man! Challenge for you: can you find a painted animal in the basilica? There are so many hidden in the frescoes!

The Crypt of Saint Francis

Shhh! Let's be quiet! We are in the crypt, the most special place in the entire basilica. Here, under this stone, rests the body of Saint Francis! Did you know it remained hidden for many years? In 1818, after digging for weeks, some friars finally found the saint's body. It was a bit like a treasure hunt! The tomb is very simple, just the way Francis liked it. Look at that light burning above the altar: it is a flame that never goes out! The oil to keep it burning is donated in turn by all the regions of Italy. It's as if all of Italy sends a little gift to Francis! Surrounding his tomb are also buried his four best friends: Brother Leo (whom Francis affectionately called "God’s Little Sheep"), Brother Masseo, Brother Rufino, and Brother Angelo. Just think: these friends followed Francis in his adventures and even today keep him company! Do you have a special friend with whom to live adventures?

The Chapel of St. Catherine and the Talking Crucifix

This is the Chapel of St. Catherine, but it hides an incredible story about St. Francis! It represents another small church, that of San Damiano, where something magical happened. One day, when Francis was still a young man searching for his path, he entered the little church of San Damiano, which was falling to pieces. As he prayed before the crucifix, he heard a voice: "Francis, go and repair my house, which, as you see, is all in ruins." Can you guess what Francis did? He took those words literally! He started collecting stones and repairing the little church with his own hands! Only later did he realize that Jesus was asking him to help all people be better. Looking at the frescoes here, you can see stories of St. Catherine of Alexandria, a very intelligent princess who challenged 50 philosophers in a battle of wits... and won! Have you ever heard an inner voice suggesting you do something good?

The Chapel of Saint Nicholas and the Three Golden Balls

Welcome to the Chapel of Saint Nicholas! Yes, you heard correctly, the very Saint Nicholas who is known as Santa Claus in some countries! These beautiful paintings were created by a famous artist named Giotto, about 700 years ago. Look at the one on the left: Saint Nicholas is giving three golden balls to three poor girls who could not marry because they had no dowry. Thanks to him, they had a happy future! Saint Nicholas was the protector of travelers, much like a "superhero" for those who embarked on long, dangerous journeys. In the other painting, you can see how he saved sailors during a terrible storm. The waves were as tall as mountains, and the ship was about to sink when... Saint Nicholas appeared to calm the storm! Game: try to count how many people are in the frescoes. And can you find the three golden balls in the painting?

The Right Transept: The Wall of Superpowers of Francesco

We are in the right transept, a special place where the walls are painted with the superpowers of Saint Francis! Okay, they weren't exactly superpowers, but miracles that Francis performed after his death. Look up: these paintings were created by Giotto and his fellow painters more than 700 years ago! Look at that scene: there's a child who fell out of a window and died, but his mother doesn't give up. She prays to Saint Francis with all her heart and... magic! The child comes back to life! The mother's face turns from sadness to joy in an instant. Giotto was excellent at painting people's emotions. It's a bit like comic books, only these are much older! Francis was so special that the Pope made him a saint just two years after his death, a record time! Curious question: if you could ask Saint Francis for a miracle, what would it be?

The Chapel of Magdalene, the Lady Who Saw Jesus First

Welcome to the Chapel of Magdalene! Mary Magdalene was a very important figure in the story of Jesus. Do you know why? Because she was the first person to see Jesus resurrected after he had died on the cross! Just like Francis, she completely changed her life to follow Jesus. Look at the painting on the right wall: it shows the very moment when Mary Magdalene meets Jesus in the garden after the resurrection. She wants to embrace him, but Jesus says to her "Noli me tangere," which in Latin means "Do not touch me." Imagine how she must have felt at that moment! In the other painting, Magdalene has become a sort of hermit and lives in a cave in France, where she is said to have spent the last 30 years of her life. Her hair grew very long, just like Rapunzel's! Game: pretend you are Mary Magdalene when she sees Jesus. What expression would you have made? Show your most surprised face!

The Stairway to Heaven

This isn't just any stairway, little explorers! It's a special staircase that leads from the Lower Basilica to the Upper one, and it's a bit magical too! Imagine: millions of people have climbed these steps over the centuries, and the stones are worn smooth by their footsteps! Feel them, see how smooth they are? The architect who designed it, a friar named Filippo da Campello, built it with a special trick: the steps are steeper and narrower at the beginning, then become more comfortable as you climb. It's a bit like life: at first, difficult things seem impossible, but as we move forward, they become easier! Have you noticed that as we ascend, there's more and more light? It's like a journey from shadow into sunlight! A little challenge for you: count the steps as we climb. Whoever guesses the exact number wins an imaginary super-explorer prize!

The Upper Basilica: Church of Stars and Comics of Francesco

WOW! Open your eyes wide! We are in the Upper Basilica, and it feels like we've stepped into a fairy-tale world! Look up: the ceiling is blue like the night sky with countless golden stars! And the stained glass windows? When the sun streams through them, they fill the church with magical lights! This part of the basilica was built between 1228 and 1253, almost 800 years ago! But the most incredible thing is the paintings on the walls: they are like a giant comic strip of the life of Saint Francis! The artist Giotto painted 28 scenes that tell the whole story of Francis, from birth to the miracles after his death. Let's walk together from right to left: here is Francis as a young man, when he was still rich and dreamed of becoming a knight... then the moment he gives his cloak to a poor knight... then he hears the crucifix speak... until he takes off all his clothes in front of the bishop to show he no longer wanted his father's riches! Game: choose which scene from the life of Francis you like the most, and then you can draw it when you get home!

The Wooden Choir: The Magic Chairs of the Singing Friars

Here we are in front of the wooden choir, what a funny name, right? In fact, it's the place where the friars sit to sing and pray together! This masterpiece was built more than 500 years ago by a master craftsman named Domenico Indivini. Look closely: each chair (called a "stall") is decorated with wood inlays, small pieces of wood of different colors put together like a puzzle to create beautiful designs! There are flowers, animals, and saints. It almost looks like they are painted, but it's all made from different woods! The friars come here several times a day to pray together, just as Saint Francis did with his friends. In the center, there's a large lectern where they placed the books with the songs to sing. The seats are arranged in two rows because the friars sang alternately, like in a singing competition! One group would sing a line, and then the other would respond. Fun challenge: can you imitate the friars? Let's divide into two groups and alternate singing "Saint Francis was a special man, he loved all creatures great and small!"