Sanctuary of San Nicolò di Piazza: A Journey Through Faith, History, and Mystery in Assisi

The Sanctuary of San Nicolò di Piazza in Assisi safeguards centuries of history and devotion, linked to emblematic figures of Christianity such as Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Nicholas of Bari. Although today only the crypt remains visible, this sacred place continues to evoke a past rich in spirituality and significant events.

The Origins: A Romanesque Church with an Evocative Crypt

The origins of the sanctuary date back to the 11th century. It was a small Romanesque church with a single nave, probably built between 1087, the year of the theft of Saint Nicholas’s relics, and 1093, the year the church first appears in documents. Of this original structure, the rectangular crypt remains, divided into two naves by two pillars. The lunette barrel vaults are made of dry stone masonry, while the walls consist of roughly squared stones. A section of the wall at the back shows remains of a Roman wall made of large blocks, evidence of the site’s long history.

Saint Nicholas: Protector of Merchants and Venerated Miracle Worker

The church was dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, Bishop of Myra, a very popular figure in the Middle Ages, venerated as the protector of merchants, sailors, children, and virgins. His fame as a miracle worker and the translation of his relics to Bari in 1087 helped spread his cult throughout Europe.

Saint Francis and San Nicolò: A Special Bond

The Sanctuary of San Nicolò holds particular importance for Franciscan history. In 1207, Saint Francis of Assisi, together with Bernard of Quintavalle, went to this very church to consult the Gospel. This event marks the first communal consultation of the Gospel by Francis and his companions, a crucial moment for the birth of the Franciscan Order. The choice of San Nicolò is not accidental: the church, at the time, was the only one facing the market square, a place of meeting and exchange, where Francis began his preaching.

From the Company of Death to the Barracks: A Troubled Fate

Over the centuries, the church of San Nicolò underwent several transformations. In 1575, the Company of Death under the title of Charity was founded there, also taking this name. In the 17th century, Egidi, in his guide to Assisi, describes the church as a sacred place and pilgrimage destination, rich in relics. However, the earthquake of 1832 marked the beginning of the church’s decline, as it ceased to be used for worship. In 1848, it became a barracks for the Papal Carabinieri and later municipal property. In 1924, the barracks and the remains of the ancient bell tower were demolished to make way for the Post Office building and the Civic Magistrate’s Court. Today, only the crypt remains of the ancient building.

An Adventure in the Crypt: In Search of Traces of the Past

Despite the transformations it has undergone, the crypt of the Sanctuary of San Nicolò continues to speak to the attentive visitor. The evocative atmosphere invites meditation and reflection. Within its ancient walls, one can imagine the prayers of the faithful, Saint Francis’s consultations, and the activities of the Company of Death. The ancient Roman wall incorporated into the crypt’s structure represents a window onto Assisi’s most ancient history, an invitation to dig into the past in search of the city’s roots. Careful observation might reveal traces of vanished frescoes or hidden inscriptions, silent testimonies of a distant time.

Additional Information:

• In 1217, the church depended on the Cathedral of San Rufino.