Located in the convent of San Francesco a Ripa Grande, in the heart of Rome’s Rione Trastevere, the Cell of St Francis of Assisi preserves a story of faith, art and spirituality spanning centuries. To mark the 800th anniversary of the Saint’s death, the Special Superintendency of Rome, headed by Daniela Porro, has overseen a major conservation project to restore the beauty and significance of this landmark of St Francis and the Franciscan heritage.
The work included the restoration of 50 silver-sheet reliquaries, affected by oxidation, and the maintenance of the monumental wooden altarpiece that houses them. The project, led by Alessandra Acconci, also involved diagnostic investigations into the icons of St Anthony of Padua and St Louis of Toulouse, examining their materials and artistic techniques.
According to tradition, St Francis stayed here during his visits to Rome, when he sought an audience with Pope Innocent III. Originally associated with religious hospitality, the room gradually became a place of worship, preserving precious evidence of Franciscan devotion.
The back wall is dominated by a wooden altarpiece created by Bernardino da Jesi between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Within it, the 50 reliquaries form an idealised family tree of the Franciscan Order, reflecting its spiritual richness.
Another outstanding work is the Portrait of St Francis by Margarito d’Arezzo, a 13th-century painting regarded as one of the earliest depictions of the Saint. It is displayed alongside icons of St Anthony and St Louis.
Carried out in collaboration with the FEC – Fund for Religious Buildings and supported by the Mecenati Roman Heritage ETS Association, the project has enhanced the entire complex, bringing together research and conservation.
San Francesco a Ripa, the Altar of St Francis and the reliquaries. Photo: Special Superintendency of Rome.
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