Chiesa di San Francesco, Gothic church building in central Orvieto, Italy
The Chiesa di San Francesco is a Gothic church with a single nave, wide arches, and a quadrangular apse located in southern Orvieto's old town. The interior features a wooden trussed roof spanning approximately 22 meters in width that shapes the character of the space.
The Franciscans built this church in 1234, replacing an earlier Benedictine monastery that once stood on the site. Pope Clement IV consecrated the building as San Francesco in 1266, establishing it as an important religious center.
The church holds three 16th-century altarpieces by Cesare Nebbia that depict religious scenes including the Immaculate Conception and Christ in Judgment. These works remain visible in their original locations today and show the artistic quality the building has maintained.
The church sits on Via Ippolito Scalza in the southern part of the historic center, within easy walking distance of the cathedral and craft-oriented streets. The central location makes it simple for visitors to combine a stop here with exploring other nearby landmarks.
Restoration work in 1999 uncovered hidden frescoes by Pietro di Puccio showing scenes from Saint Matthew's life in the presbytery chapel. These wall paintings had been covered for centuries and offer a rare glimpse into medieval artistic creation.
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