The Basilica di San Bernardino stands on a slightly raised platform in the northern part of the historic centre, its 16th-century Renaissance facade by Cola dell'Amatrice presenting an imposing three-storey front with pilasters and a central portal of exceptional quality. The facade is considered one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Abruzzo and survived the 2009 earthquake better than much of the surrounding city.
The interior contains several important works: the mausoleum of Maria Pereira (wife of a 15th-century condottiere), the tomb of San Bernardino himself by Silvestro dell'Aquila, and a remarkable Baroque painted ceiling. The church was built to house the saint's relics and became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in central Italy — a status it retains today.