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The Three Homes of Francis
Nobody knows for certain where in Assisi St. Francis was born. There are, however, three places associated with him and his family, the Bernardones. The first is the Chiesa Nuova, a beautiful 17th century church, the property for which was paid for by King Philip II of Spain. Here many believe the Bernardones had their home and cloth store. Evidence of this can be seen when one exits the church through a door next to the sanctuary. Along the wall is a door on the second story. Many people argue that it served as the entrance to the Bernardones’ home. A small room on a lower level in this edifice fits the description of the Bernardone cloth shop.
Chiesa Nuova
San Francesco Piccolino
Down a narrow passageway from the Chiesa Nuova is the second place associated with Francis. Called San Francesco Piccolino, the little room was once a stable (a stalletta in Italian); in 1181 or 82, legend has it that Lady Pica gave birth to Francis in its confines. The parallelism to the birth of Jesus foreshadows Francis’ lifelong imitation of Christ.
The Via San Paolo, the former location of the Bernardone house
that stood between the Churches of San Nicolo and San Paolo
With regards to Francis’ third potential domicile, there are several witnesses to its authenticity. Arnaldo Fortini – a renowned author – and Friar Nicholas of Assisi both recall the Bernardone home standing between the Church of San Nicolo and the Church of San Paolo. As is the case with the San Francesco Piccolino stable, records indicate Francis’ nephews paying taxes on the property in between the San Nicolo and San Paolo for a municipal rebuilding project. Today, however, only a small cellar from what was once the Bernardone house remains for visitors to see.
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