Basilica di San Francesco

What Basilica di San Francesco does

The Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi is a Papal Basilica and UNESCO World Heritage site established by papal decree in 1228 by Pope Gregory IX, housing the mortal remains of St. Francis of Assisi since 1230 and the mortal remains of his first companions. Operated by the Custodia Generale del Sacro Convento di San Francesco dei Frati Minori Conventuali (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) with a community of 56 friars from 21 countries, the institution serves millions of Catholic pilgrims, cultural tourists, university students, and international dignitaries annually. Its core offerings span individual and group pilgrimages, daily Mass and sacramental services, guided tours of the Upper Church, Lower Church, Tomb of St. Francis, Sacro Convento, Library and Archives, and Museum of Treasures, plus the Giotto, Cimabue, and Simone Martini fresco cycles spanning over 3,600 square meters.

The underlying technology stack is light: an online reservation system at prenotazioni.sanfrancesco.org for group visits, a live webcam stream from the Crypt, a 360° virtual tour, a Digital St. Francis mobile app, PayPal-integrated online donations, and email/newsletter infrastructure for community engagement. Supporting product lines include the Percorsi Assisi inter-university summer school (currently in its VI edition with eight Italian universities), the Note d'In...Chiostro and Concerti dell'anima concert series, the Cortile di Francesco cultural event, the Con il Cuore charity marathon, the on-site religious goods store, the Statio Peregrinorum pilgrim office, the Centro Convegni Colle del Paradiso convention center, and a photographic archive.

The business model is non-profit and donation-funded: free entry to the Basilica, voluntary pilgrim donations, Italian 5x1000 IRPEF tax designation (channeled through the jointly controlled Fondazione per la Basilica di San Francesco, Tax Code 80052240548), retail sales of religious goods, registration fees for Percorsi Assisi, and venue/event rental at Colle del Paradiso. A jointly controlled Foundation handles heritage protection, promotion, and enhancement, while major donor-funded restoration projects (e.g., the Silvestro and Margherita Niboli Fund support of the Chapel of Mary Magdalene) supplement the operating budget.

Name

Basilica di San Francesco

Legal name

Custodia Generale del Sacro Convento di San Francesco dei Frati Minori Conventuali

Website

https://sanfrancescoassisi.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi is a 1228-founded Papal Basilica and UNESCO World Heritage site, operated by the Friars Minor Conventual, serving Catholic pilgrims, cultural tourists, university students, and international dignitaries through worship, guided tours of Giotto frescoes and the Tomb of St. Francis, and the Percorsi Assisi educational program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Pilgrimage and Cultural Heritage Site

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Landmarks & Pilgrimage Sites (Temples, Churches, Shrines) (THAJACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

UNESCO & Protected Landmark Sites (THAJACAI), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Religious & Sacred Sites Tours (THAJAAAF), Faith-Based Group Travel (Church/Mosque/Temple) Organizers (THAKAHAH)

Keywords

• Religious pilgrimage services
• Papal basilica operations
• Franciscan heritage tourism
• Sacred art preservation
• Christian cultural site

Headquarters

HQ city

Assisi

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Offerings: Voluntary donations from pilgrims and visitors to support the Basilica and friars' activities. Includes specific donation campaigns for restoration works.
2. 5x1000 Tax Designation: Italian taxpayers can designate 5x1000 of their IRPEF tax to the Foundation for the Basilica (Tax Code: 80052240548), providing ongoing public funding.
3. Gift Shop/Religious Goods Store: The Basilica's store, located between the lower and upper churches, sells religious items and books. Proceeds support restoration and charitable works.
4. Percorsi Assisi Educational Programs: Summer school and educational programs (Percorsi Assisi) with registration fees supporting inter-university formation initiatives.
5. Event Venue Rental: Centro Convegni Colle del Paradiso convention center available for events and gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Basilica di San Francesco operates a Papal Basilica and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assisi, offering individual and group pilgrimages, daily Mass and sacramental services, scheduled guided tours of the Upper Church, Lower Church, Crypt, Sacro Convento, Library, Archives, and Museum of Treasures, and cultural programming including concerts and exhibitions. Supplementary paid offerings include the Percorsi Assisi summer school, rental of the Centro Convegni Colle del Paradiso event venue, and an on-site religious goods store.

Product overview

The Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi is a Papal Basilica and religious sanctuary that offers a portfolio of spiritual, cultural, and visitor services centered around its role as the burial site of Saint Francis. The core offerings include daily pilgrimages, religious celebrations, and Basilica tours (including virtual 360° tours and live webcam streaming). Supporting services include a reservation system for group visits, online donation capabilities, newsletter subscriptions, a Musical Chapel hosting regular concerts, and a religious goods shop. Educational and cultural programs include the Percorsi Assisi summer school, a photographic archive, a convention center (Colle del Paradiso), and the Statio Peregrinorum office for pilgrim assistance. The institution maintains active online presence through its website and social media channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Percorsi Assisi: A summer school and training program promoted by the Sacro Convento in collaboration with Italian universities focusing on interdisciplinary education and Franciscan values.
• Cortile di Francesco
• Con il Cuore
• Percorsi Assisi School of Education

Products and services

• Basilica Pilgrimage Services Individual and group pilgrimages, prayer services, sacraments (Mass, confession, communion), and blessings offered to visitors at the Basilica; services available in person at the site and coordinated via the online reservation system.
• Basilica Guided Tours Scheduled guided tours of the Upper Church, Lower Church, Tomb of Saint Francis, Sacro Convento, Library and Archives, and Museum of Treasures, led by friars and available to individuals and groups on a daily schedule.
• Live Webcam Streaming from the Tomb Live webcam broadcast from the Crypt allowing remote visitors worldwide to view the Tomb of Saint Francis in real time.
• Virtual 360° Tour of the Basilica Immersive online 360° virtual reality tour of the Basilica allowing remote exploration of its sacred spaces and art.
• Online Reservation System for Group Visits Self-serve online booking system at prenotazioni.sanfrancesco.org that lets groups reserve guided visits, special access and tour slots at the Basilica.
• Percorsi Assisi Summer School Inter-university summer school and educational program promoting interdisciplinary higher education, cultural immersion and Franciscan-inspired formation for university students and young professionals under 35, co-organized with multiple Italian universities; registration fees apply.
• Religious Goods Shop Physical retail store at the Basilica selling religious items, books and devotional articles to visitors and pilgrims; proceeds fund restoration and the friars' charitable activities.
• Statio Peregrinorum (Pilgrim Office) On-site pilgrim assistance office providing reception, information, coordination and support services to individual pilgrims and organized pilgrimage groups visiting the Basilica.
• Musical Chapel and Concert Series Musica della Cappella (Musical Chapel) performances plus scheduled concert series including 'Note d'In...Chiostro' summer concerts in the Chiostro Sisto IV, 'Concerti dell'anima' in the Upper Church and the 'Squilla della Sera' evening organ meditations.
• Centro Convegni Colle del Paradiso Convention Venue Conference, convention and private event venue operated by the Basilica at colledelparadiso.it, providing event hosting services for organizations, associations and delegations.
• Online Donation Platform Online donation platform with PayPal payment processing allowing supporters to contribute to the Basilica's maintenance, restoration and the friars' charitable activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Millions of pilgrims visit annually, drawn by the spiritual and historical significance of the site
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor, core and strategic.

• G7 - Inclusion and DisabilityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Hosting the opening of the G7 Inclusion and Disability summit, with ministerial delegations welcomed in Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco. First G7 event dedicated specifically to inclusion and disability.
• Additional Percorsi Assisi Partners (University of Parma, University of L'Aquila, Università Politecnica delle Marche)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2025Additional universities participating in the VI edition of Percorsi Assisi, expanding the inter-university educational network.
• St. Francis Day FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2025Collaborating organization for the 'Laudato sie: nature and science' exhibition celebrating the eighth centenary of the Canticle of the Sun, held in the Papal Hall of the Sacro Convento.
• Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Inter-university higher education project promoted by the Sacro Convento of St. Francis in Assisi. University contributes to the Percorsi Assisi School of Education program focusing on interdisciplinary lectures and experiential learning.
• University of Naples Federico IIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Co-organizer of the Percorsi Assisi educational program, contributing faculty and academic framework to the inter-university summer school.
• Luiss Guido Carli University (Rome)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Academic partner in the Percorsi Assisi School of Education, providing interdisciplinary study and communal life experience.
• University of MaceratacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Participating university in the inter-university educational project Percorsi Assisi, supporting Franciscan-inspired higher education.
• University of PerugiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2024Partner university in the Percorsi Assisi program, contributing to interdisciplinary educational initiatives.
• National Gallery of UmbriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenewed agreement between the National Gallery of Umbria and the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of Assisi for collaborative enhancement of cultural heritage.
• Fondazione per la Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi (Foundation for the Basilica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-controller of data processing (joint data controllership) and dedicated to protection, promotion, and enhancement of the Basilica's religious, historical, monumental and cultural heritage. Tax code: 80052240548.
• Hawzah Ilmiyyah (Islamic Seminaries of Iran)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith dialogue partnership following Pope Francis's invitation to build bridges of peace. Delegation visit to Assisi included meetings with the Franciscan community as part of ongoing interreligious dialogue initiative that began with meetings in Qom, Iran.
• United Nations / António GuterresflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery of the Lamp of Peace to UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2021, symbolizing the Basilica's role in international peace initiatives and fraternal humanism advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Basilica of Saint Peter (Vatican City): The Vatican's papal basilica is the closest functional peer: a Roman Catholic Papal Basilica that serves as a destination for millions of pilgrims and global tourists, with museum-style precincts, guided tours, retail stores, and event spaces, all centered on an irreplaceable spiritual object (St. Peter's tomb).
• Westminster Abbey: A UNESCO World Heritage royal church in London with ticketed guided tours, museum collections, daily worship services, and a tradition of hosting national ceremonies—a heritage religious site with comparable global tourism, art holdings, and donor-backed preservation activities.
• Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes: One of the world's most-visited Marian pilgrimage sites, operated by a Catholic order with donation funding, organized group pilgrimages, multilingual guided tours, religious goods stores, and a heavy reliance on international pilgrim flows similar to Assisi.
• Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Largest Catholic church in the United States, with pilgrim services, daily Masses, guided tours, museum and educational spaces, a religious goods store, and a free-entry donation model—largely comparable to Assisi as a non-operating tourism and pilgrimage destination.
• Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem): Central site of Christianity venerated as the location of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, drawing millions of pilgrims and tourists annually. Managed jointly by multiple Christian denominations with shared ecclesiastical custody, it parallels Assisi's combination of spiritual primacy and shared governance.
• Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacré-Cœur, Paris): A Roman Catholic basilica on Montmartre, Paris, popular for both religious services and as one of Paris's top tourist attractions, with free entry, multilingual guided tours, ongoing restoration projects, and live cultural programming.
• Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe: The most-visited Catholic shrine in the world receives tens of millions of pilgrims annually with free access, donation-driven operations, multiple masses per day, museum elements, and a religious goods store—offering a comparable operating model at much larger global scale.
• Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua: Run by a fellow Franciscan order, this Italian basilica houses the relics of a major Franciscan saint, draws millions of pilgrims annually, and is part of the same UNESCO "Assisi and Other Franciscan Sites" serial inscription. It mirrors the Assisi Basilica's combination of pilgrimage, art heritage, and international donor engagement.
• Santiago de Compostela Cathedral: Terminus of the Camino de Santiago, this Roman Catholic cathedral ranks among the most-visited pilgrimage destinations in Christendom, blending pilgrimage services, medieval art, donor-funded restoration, and event hosting in a model directly analogous to Assisi.

Others

• National Gallery of Umbria: Regional public art museum in Perugia and the Basilica's explicit cultural-heritage partner under a renewed collaboration agreement. Comparable as a religious/heritage-adjacent cultural institution, complementing rather than competing with Assisi's visitor offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BasilicaSanFrancescodAssisi
• Facebookfacebook.com/sanfrancescoassisi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/basilica-di-san-francesco

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Basilica di San Francesco