Basilica of Saint Francis hosts Assisi Pax Mundi on 11 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 00:30 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- The Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi hosts the Assisi Pax Mundi preview on 11 October 2026.
- The preview begins at 9pm in the Upper Church, with admission free according to the basilica operator.
- The programme includes a cantata performed by the Orchestra Sinfonica del Veneto and Ensemble Vocale Continuum on 11 October 2026.
The Basilica of Saint Francis (Basilica papale di San Francesco) in Assisi hosts the Assisi Pax Mundi preview on 11 October 2026. The evening event begins at 9pm in the Upper Church, with admission free according to the basilica operator.
Assisi Pax Mundi brings sacred music to the Upper Church
The preview forms part of the programme leading towards Assisi Pax Mundi, an international non-competitive festival of Franciscan sacred music. The festival is promoted by the Franciscan family of Assisi and the preview takes place inside the basilica itself.
The programme includes the cantata Se io ti bacio tu mi baci Cielo, with music by Roberto Fabbriciani and texts by Davide Rondoni. The performance brings together the Orchestra Sinfonica del Veneto, the Ensemble Vocale Continuum, tenor Cristian Ricci, violinist Brother Peter Hrdy and Fabbriciani on flute, as reported by the festival preview programme.
The operator lists the event as Anteprima Assisi Pax Mundi 2026, placing it in the Upper Church on Sunday 11 October 2026. The basilica event listing gives the start time as 9pm and identifies admission as free.
Two churches and a UNESCO-listed Franciscan complex
The building rises on the western side of Assisi and contains two superimposed churches. The Lower Church reflects Umbrian Romanesque traditions, while the Upper Church uses a French Gothic language adapted in Italy.
Construction began in 1228 after the canonisation of Saint Francis, and the church was consecrated in 1253. The complex has housed the saint’s remains since 1230, while its frescoes include work associated with Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti. The operator’s history of the basilica records its two-level architectural layout and its inscription with other Franciscan sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
The October preview therefore places a contemporary sacred-music programme in the upper of the two historic churches. Visitors attending the concert will encounter a venue whose artistic identity was formed by medieval architecture and major fresco cycles, rather than a separate concert hall.
Visiting Basilica of Saint Francis: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Assisi Pax Mundi preview takes place on 11 October 2026 at 9pm in the Upper Church of the Basilica of Saint Francis.
- Admission is free, and the event is listed by the operator as an evening programme inside the Upper Church.
- The basilica is at Piazza San Francesco, 2, in Assisi, Italy, on the western side of the hill town.
- Assisi is in Italy, where Italian is the official language and the national currency is the euro.
Searching for Basilica of Saint Francis on social platforms
These links open searches for Basilica of Saint Francis on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Basilica of Saint Francis
When does Assisi Pax Mundi take place at the Basilica of Saint Francis?
The preview takes place on 11 October 2026 at 9pm in the Upper Church.
What is the Basilica of Saint Francis?
It is a two-level Franciscan church in Assisi, consecrated in 1253 and inscribed with other Franciscan sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
Where is the Basilica of Saint Francis and how do you get there?
The basilica stands at Piazza San Francesco, 2, in Assisi, Italy, on the western side of the historic hill town.
