Saint Francis of Assisi "SAN FRANCESCO" was born there in 1181/82 and died in 1226. In his youth, the son of wealthy parents, he was more of a bon vivant, but later turned to Christ. In the half-ruined little church of San Damiano, located on the hillside outside the city walls of Assisi, he was praying one day and heard the voice of Christ coming down from the cross, calling on him to “rebuild his church”. At first he took this request literally and restored the church building; later he realized that this was primarily about the church as the community of believers. Francis became a role model for many people, they joined him, and the "Order of Friars Minor" (Ordo Fratrum Minorum) of Francis of Assisi was created.