Overview

The statue of St Francis of Assisi stands to the right of the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano on a large base made from peperino stone. It is seven meters tall and was made by the sculptor Tonnini in 1925 to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the saint's death. St Francis has his arms held out wide to symbolically embrace St John while being surrounded by the bronze figures of his own disciples. The location of the monument is visually important between San Giovanni and the basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.