San Francesco, Prato, 13th-century Romanesque church in Prato, Italy
San Francesco is a 13th-century church in Prato featuring exterior walls of alternating white and green striped stone that create a distinctive visual pattern. A bell tower designed by Antonio Benini rises beside it, completed in the early 1800s.
Construction began in 1281 next to an existing monastery and it was among the first structures in Prato to use brick rather than stone. This material choice was innovative at the time and influenced how the city would build in future decades.
The church served as a gathering place for Prato's merchants and craftspeople who used it for prayer and community meetings throughout the centuries. You can see in its spaces how worshippers made it central to their daily lives.
The church is located on Piazza San Francesco in Prato's historic center and is easy to reach on foot from nearby streets. Visit early in the morning or late afternoon when the square is less crowded and you can see the details more clearly.
The Chapter room preserves complete fresco cycles from the 15th century showing religious narratives in a style influenced by masters of that era. These wall paintings are rarely found so intact and offer a rare glimpse into the artistic techniques of the late Middle Ages.
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