The Laudato Sie Exibit: A Spiritual and Historical visit to Assisi

After its debut at Palazzo Braschi in Rome, the exhibition Laudato Sie: Nature and Science. The Cultural Legacy of Brother Francis is now on view at the Sacred Convent of San Francesco in Assisi, marking the 800th anniversary of the earliest surviving manuscript of The Canticle of the Creatures by Saint Francis.

This significant exhibition, co-sponsored by the IAF, presents 94 rare and historically valuable works from the Ancient Collection of the Municipal Library of Assisi. Visitors can view original manuscripts, early scientific texts, devotional objects, and fragile materials that offer a deeper understanding of the intersection between spirituality, nature, and medieval science through the Franciscan lens.

The setting itself adds gravity: the show is housed within the Papal Hall of the Sacred Convent, directly adjacent to the Basilica of San Francesco, one of Italy’s most important religious and cultural sites. It’s a fitting context for an exhibition that explores Saint Francis not only as a spiritual figure but also as a catalyst for early ecological and philosophical thinking.

Exhibition Information

• On view through October 12, 2025

• Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)

• Getting there: Assisi is accessible from Rome by direct train from Roma Termini or by bus, with a travel time of approximately two hours.

Location:
Sacred Convent of San Francesco
Piazza Inferiore di S. Francesco, 2
06081 Assisi (PG), Italy

How to Visit:
Enter via the Lower Basilica, walk to the far end, and take the staircase to the upper courtyard. Follow signs to the Treasury Museum, and continue to the Papal Hall, where the exhibition is located. Tickets are available at the entrance or can be purchased online in advance.

-Lauren Carroll