San Francesco, Gothic church in Alatri, Italy
San Francesco is a church in Alatri designed in the Gothic style, with one entrance and a large circular window featuring radiating stone patterns on its stone exterior. The building sits at a prominent location in the town's central area and shows the architectural details typical of medieval religious construction.
Construction started in 1220 when the Franciscan order needed a base in the town. The work took over 100 years before finishing in the early 1330s, becoming the center of this religious community.
The walls here display religious paintings from the 1300s and 1400s created by local and visiting artists of the time. You can see these frescoes showing saints and religious scenes as you walk through the space.
This place is located in the center of town and easy to reach on foot from the main square during a walking tour. The surroundings feature steep and narrow streets typical of old towns, so wearing comfortable shoes is helpful for exploring the area.
Hidden inside is a circular labyrinth painting discovered during restoration work in 1997. At its center sits Christ in a blessing pose, making this one of the few examples of this particular artistic style found in the region.
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