Buy tickets & tours:VivaTicket The Basilica of San Francesco is a historic Roman Catholic church located in the heart of Ravenna. With origins tracing back to the 5th century, it stands as one of the city’s oldest sacred buildings and plays a central role in Ravenna’s religious and cultural heritage. The Basilica of San Francesco is also well known for its connection to Dante Alighieri, as it hosted his solemn funeral in 1321 and sits near his tomb in the city’s “Zone of Silence”. Today, the basilica remains a living parish church affiliated with the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and welcomes visitors curious to explore its long history, distinctive architecture, submerged crypt, and art. Short History of the Basilica of San Francesco The site of the Basilica of San Francesco has been sacred since shortly after AD 450, when Bishop Neone (Neo) – the same figure who founded the Neonian Baptistery – commissioned the original church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, known as the Church of the Apostles. Between the 9th and 10th centuries, that early building was demolished and replaced with a larger church still visible today, along with a bell tower dating to the Read more [...]