The Great Stone and the Sanctuary
There are 3 main Franciscan localities in the city of Terni: The Church of San Cristoforo (Saint Christopher), the Church of San Francesco (Saint Francis) and the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Saint Mary of the Graces). They are linked to different moments of the Saint’s life. In 1213, in his first sermon in Terni, Saint Francis was invited to lunch by the rector of the Church of Saint Christopher, which is located in the present via Angeloni. The Saint performed two miracles: he changed vinegar into fine wine and brought back to life a small boy who had been crushed by a wall. Still today, next to the entry to the Church, there is the “Great Stone” of Saint Francis. According to tradition, Saint Francis preached to the citizens of Terni from this rock and to commemmorate this sermon there is also a bronze statue. The Church of Saint Francis, today raised to Sanctuary, is now in the historical centre but in 1265, when building works began, it was set among the fields and kitchen gardens that stretched to the west of the city, where the saint would retreat to meditate. To begin with, it had just one nave in imitation of the Assisi Basilica and then the church was subsequently expanded and today contains notable works of art, such as the Paradisi Chapel, frescoed with scenes from the Last Judgement by Bartolomeo di Tommaso.
The Church of Saint Mary of the Graces (late XV century), was built where a Franciscan convent used to stand, close to where there was a spring believed to be miraculous. The walls of the cloister are frescoed with episodes from the life of Saint Francis.

The Hermitage of Cesi
Between the Umbrian-Roman city of Carsulae and the top of Torre Maggiore at a height of almost 800 metres, in the Martan Mountains, there is one of the most fascinating Fransiscan building complexes in Umbria. The Hermitage, which is reached on foot from the archaeological area of Carsulae, or from Poggio Azzuano, was donated to the Franciscans in 1213. It was Saint Francis who enlarged it having some cells built and a small church similar to the Porziuncola of Assisi. On the inside he had numerous religious figures frescoed, under which he wrote some verses which offered up praise to the Lord. The Blessed Paoluccio Trinci enlarged it further. Near the Convent, there is the Grotta of Saint Francis which has an excellent view down onto the entire valley below and was used by the Saint as a place to meditate. Today, after 15 years of renovation work, organised by the good will of a Franciscan monk, with the help of a large number of volunteers, the hermitage is once more a centre of spirituality.

Saint Francis in San Gemini
At just a short walk from the main square of San Gemini, stands the Church of Saint Francis, a beautiful Gothic structure. It was built and paid for by the Capitoni family, where a small oratory and a modest Convent stood, which were built by Saint Francis in 1213. The presence of the Saint in San Gemini brought about a miraculous event: a young woman, possessed by the devil, was freed from its presence thanks to the prayers of the Saint and his followers.


The first image of Saint Francis
Just before reaching the village of Stroncone, coming from Terni, you meet the Convent of Saint Francis. Born on the Saint’s wishes and, originally given the name of Saint Mary. The 14th century church of this convent, according to several historians, contains the most ancient and authentic document of Franciscan iconography. There is in fact, a painted fragment of the 14th century which portrays the Virgin Mary sitting on a throne, with the Child in her arms and Saint Francis. The Saint’s portrayal corresponds precisely with the description of Saint Francis left to us by Tommaso da Celano. There is a marked Franciscan track that leaves Stroncone and reaches 1100 metres to the Prati (meadows), crossing Pian di Ruschio and then descending towards the Sanctuary of Greccio, in the Province of Rieti.