Assisi - Saint Clares Church

(Local Name: Santa Chiara) South of the cathedral, in the Piazza Santa Chiara, stands the Gothic church of Santa Chiara (1265). Under the high altar is the open tomb of St Clare (d. 1253), the enthusiastic disciple of St Francis who founded the order of Clarissines or Poor Clares. In the Capella del Crocefisso on the left side of the nave hangs the "Speaking Cross" from the convent of San Damiano, in front of which St Francis is said to have received the message from God to "go forth and rebuild my house".