San Damiano sits about 2 km below the town walls, reached by a steady walk down through olive groves. The small church-and-monastery complex was the first community founded by St. Clare and the place where she lived for forty years until her death. The chapel itself is almost unchanged from the 13th century — bare, dim, and small, with a copy of the famous San Damiano crucifix above the altar (the original is now in Santa Chiara).
A small cloister, the dormitory where Clare slept, and the refectory where her place is still marked are all open. This is one of the most atmospheric places connected with the early Franciscans, partly because it is far enough out of town to escape the tour buses. Allow 90 minutes including the walk down.