Lower Basilica

 Main Portal (image)  
Here, we are in front of a Gothic entrance that, through its sheer majesty and dignity, offers us a glimpse of the beauty we’ll find inside. 
The two doorways are framed by slender and elegant columns that curve upwards to form an ogival arch that frames a marvelous rose window. 
The words Indulgenza plenaria quotidiana perpetua are inscribed on the arch. 

Entrance

The Lower Basilica has a single nave and full-center arches divided it into four bays with heavily-ribbed cross-vaults that are sustained on short semicircular pillars 
without bases. 
Instead, the wings of the transept feature barrel vaults. 
Even though the entrance is quite large, it is rather dark. 
Located inside are: the Chapel of St. Catherine, the Chapel of St. Sebastian, the fourteenth-century Gothic Mausoleum of the Cerchi Family (from 
Florence) and the Apse (built by the Nepis family of Assisi during the fifteenth century). Sculpted inside it are the Papal Bulls that bear witness to the 
great interest that the Roman Church took in this Basilica, the Mausoleum built by Queen Yolanda of Cyprus, the Chapel of St. Anthony and the Chapel 
of St. Catherine by Matteo Gattapone of Gubbio (Cardinal Albornoz was buried here). 

Central Nave

An ideal place for contemplation, it seems to be the perfect path leading to a spiritual meeting with the Saint. Its a star-studded cross vault has superbly decorated

arches.
The extant frescoes have been attributed to Giunta Pisano and his original works were partially destroyed when the openings were made in the walls for the side
chapels.

Tomb of St. Francis

The crypt was excavated two years after the Saint’s body was rediscovered in 1820. 
It was designed by the architects Brizi and Belli, but was decorated in a neoclassical style that had little to do with the style of the two churches above it. 
Thus, the crypt was opened the public again in 1932 (based on plans by Ugo Tarchi) with clean and simple lines that impart the Franciscan ideal of simplicity. 

The habit and Remains of St. Francis

The Saint’s tomb is set into a stone block that is protected by an iron grate (the most recent recognition dates to January of 1978). 
Placed along the sides of the crypt and protected by iron grates are the tombs of the Saint’s four disciples, Rufinus, Angelus, Masseus and Leo. 
The votive lamp near the tomb burns the oil offered by the local governments of the cities of Italy. Each year on October 4, a different region offers the oil for the 
lamp.