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San Damiano Sanctuary

San Damiano Sanctuary

Highlight • Religious Site

San Damiano Sanctuary

Name: San Damiano Sanctuary
Rating: 2

Recommended by 17 hikers

This Highlight is in a protected area

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Parco Regionale del Monte Subasio

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Location: Assisi, Perugia, Umbria, Italy

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Best Hikes to San Damiano Sanctuary

4.6

(8)

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1. Assisi Historic Center – San Rufino Cathedral loop from San Vitale

8.61km

02:35

270m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.5

(8)

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2. San Damiano Sanctuary – The Porziuncola loop from Assisi

12.8km

03:30

200m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.5

(6)

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3. Assisi Historic Center – Historic Center of Assisi loop from Assisi

11.1km

03:07

220m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Paul

April 24, 2025

Monastery and Church of San Damiano, Assisi
The church and monastery of San Damiano are located just outside the old town of Assisi.
The church, built between the 8th and 9th centuries in honor of the holy doctor, was an important Benedictine priory in 1030. It was gradually abandoned in the following period.
It was here that St. Francis first heard the voice of the Lord. The crucifix, now kept in the Basilica of Santa Chiara, spoke to the saint: "Francis, go and restore my house, which, as you see, is already completely dilapidated" (referring to the crisis of the Church). The saint drew strength and confirmation of his vocation from these words.
The first restoration of the church of San Damiano was carried out by Francis himself, who welcomed St. Clare and her companions there in 1212 and composed the Cantico delle Creature (Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis).
The Poor Clares built a small dormitory and remained in San Damiano until 1260, shortly after St. Clare's death.

Description
A spacious portico is built in front of the simple façade; the door opens at the top of the wall, from which St. Clare appears.
Text / Source: Umbria Tourism.it
umbriatourism.it/de-DE/-/convento-e-chiesa-di-san-damiano

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Paul

April 24, 2025

San Damiano Via San Damiano, 7, 06081 Assisi PG, Italy
The Place and the Fraternity
The monastery and sanctuary of San Damiano, where the Friars Minor have lived since the 13th century, is one of the Franciscan shrines of Assisi—along with the Porziuncola, the Hermitage of the Prisons, and the New Church—guarded by the Friars Minor of the Seraphic Province of St. Francis of Assisi.
The monastery is currently a house of formation for novices, that is, for young people who, in their zeal to follow Jesus on the path of St. Francis of Assisi, are experiencing the "year of trial": in Franciscan habit, they deepen his charism through a life of prayer, penance, and fraternity, with a view to their first profession of religious vows.
The confraternity, currently composed of 16 brothers, is committed to various services for the Order's province and the local Church, including the formation of novices, the care of the shrine, and the reception and accompaniment of the thousands of pilgrims who pass through this holy place each year.
The recent history of this place is quite turbulent. Following the subversive laws of 1860, the place was first forfeited by the Italian government and then sold by the municipality of Assisi in 1879 to Lord G.F.S. Robinson, Marquis of Ripon. It later passed into the hands of the Kerr family. The last owner, Lord Peter Kerr, Marquis of Lothian, returned it to the Order of Friars Minor with a notarial deed dated September 22, 1983.
Lord Lothian, who wished that St. Damian's remain a place of prayer, silence, and peace, included several conditions or fees in the notarial deed of gift. Among them is a limited time for visits. The wording of the condition or obligation is as follows: "Tourist visits are prohibited before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. In winter, from 5 p.m. onwards.

Text/Source: Seraphic Province of St. Francis of Assisi of the Friars Minor of Umbria
santuariosandamiano.org/home.html

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JakobusPilger

March 1, 2024

Not only did the vocation of San Francesco (Francis of Assisi) begin here in San Damiano, but he also wrote the famous "Sun Song" here. The German translation of the title is catchy, but not really correct. In the original Italian it is called "Cantico delle Creature", so in German it should actually be called "Praise Song of the Creatures". Franciscan Brother Peter Fobes has an introduction to the topic that is worth reading at the following link:
franziskaner.net/der-sonnengesang

Translated by Google •

Details

Informations

Elevation 380 m

Weather

Thursday 15 January

14°C

3°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

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Location: Assisi, Perugia, Umbria, Italy

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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Chiesa Nuova (Assisi)

La Porziuncola

Acquedotto romano

Porta San Giacomo

Porta Nuova (Assisi)

San Damiano Sanctuary

1. Assisi Historic Center – San Rufino Cathedral loop from San Vitale

2. San Damiano Sanctuary – The Porziuncola loop from Assisi

3. Assisi Historic Center – Historic Center of Assisi loop from Assisi

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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