Church of San Francesco
The Church of St. Francis dates back to the early fourteenth century and features a Latin cross plan with a single nave and three polygonal apses. Its exterior reveals the modifications made in the early 700’s, while the interior has been completely changed in Baroque style. Here is preserved a copy of the “Marriage of the Virgin”, a masterpiece painted by Raphael in 1504, stolen by Napoleon’s troops in 1798 and now preserved in the Brera Art Gallery in Milan. Worth a visit are the adjoining Chapter Hall, with its original and elegant large mullioned windows, and the Chapel designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1563. The latter houses the large panel of “The Coronation of the Virgin” executed by Vasari himself for the main altar of the chapel in the following years. The chapel also boasts a beautiful wrought iron gate dating back to 1556 and a choir of the sixteenth century along the walls. The church, built in Gothic style with sandstone in the early fourteenth century, shows a so-called Latin cross plan with a single nave, ending with an apse with three polygonal chapels. Its exterior manifests the modifications made in the early 1700’s, although still preserving all the elements of its original look. The interior was completely transformed in Baroque style in 1707, 1718 and 1727, while the entrance gate visible today dates back to 1731, when the old Gothic portal was walled in order to make space for an altar inside. The altar is dedicated to St. Joseph and, within the frame where today you can see a copy of “The Marriage of the Virgin”, once housed the original painted by Raphael. The church also used to be home of the “Adoration of the Shepherds”, executed by Luca Signorelli in 1496, now at the National Gallery of London. In the back of the church, a large stone arch enclosed by a wrought iron gate dating back to 1567, leads to the imposing Vitelli Chapel. In 1563, Vasari painted the “Coronation of the Virgin”, which would be placed on the main altar of the church two years later. A choir made with inlays and drawings based on drawings by Raphael can still be seen today around the walls.