The Basilica of St Bernardino all'Osservanza

The Relics of Saint Bernardino

The clothes that belonged to Saint Bernardino are undoubtedly among the most important relics at the Osservanza. The main items are the travelling tunic in lightweight wool, the thick gray wool habit, the woollen cloak used as a large cope, and the long baize socks.


The precious reliquary that contains them was made between 1454 and 1462 by Francesco d'Antonio and commissioned by the consistory of Siena. The angel holding the crosier and the angel with two mitres, symbolising the two bishoprics of Ferrara and Urbino that Bernardino refused, were made in two later alterations (1682 and 1725) by Domenico Bonechi. At the top of the urn are the Holy ashes of the saint’s praecordium in a chasse shaped like a ciborium and surmounted by another little shrine that houses one of the saint’s teeth, culminating with the symbol of the Franciscans: the arm of Christ crossed with the arm of Saint Francis, both hands bearing the stigmata, and the cross in the background. The reliquary’s processional stand, in gilded wood, was made by Pietro Montini in 1687.
On display, next to the reliquary, is the table with the IHS monogram, dated 1425 and believed to be the original which Bernardino used during public sermons.

  • Reliquary of Saint Bernardino, XVth–XVIIIth centuries.
  • Reliquary of Saint Bernardino, detail, XVth–XVIIIth centuries.