Casa Canonica (17th century)

The earliest surviving reference to a chapter of canons at San Rufino dates to 1029, when Leto is recorded as their prior. 

The canons were drawn from the families of the nobles of Assisi, whose tower houses surrounded the Duomo and who were locked in a struggle to wrest the political control of the city from its bishops.  Thus, while the early priors probably acknowledged the authority of the bishops of Assisi, by the early 11th century the relations between the occupants of these two offices had become strained.  (It is noteworthy that while Bishop Ugone is given credit for building the “new” church  of San Rufino in the 11th century, it was the Prior Ranierio who commissioned its successor (the present church) in 1140.

The remains of a cloister (ca. 1030) that belonged to the first community of canons can be reached from the door to the left of the current building.  [Recent excavations under the building ???] 

Fresco fragments from the Casa Canonica are preserved in the Museo della Cattedrale.

Relief of a Roman Knight (1st century BC) 

This relief, which is embedded in the façade (near the façade of San Rufino), formed part of a travertine urn that was found in a necropolis that was excavated behind San Rufino.  It depicts a young man (presumably the deceased) and his horse. 

The inscription commemorates him as Ner(o) Egnati(us), son of T(itus).  This is one of three surving inscriptions that relate to the Egnatius family.

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