San Francesco, Sansepolcro, Gothic parish church in Sansepolcro, Italy.
San Francesco is a parish church in the heart of Sansepolcro featuring Gothic architecture with pointed arches across its facade. Its bell tower, dating from the 13th century, stands as a key element of the building's design.
Construction began in 1258 under Franciscan leadership and shaped the spiritual center of the town. Later renovations in the 18th century added decorative stucco work to the interior.
The bell called the "Raniera" is rung at the request of parents to announce each birth in Sansepolcro; it was donated by the Comune in 2004 to replace the 1623 bell, itself recast from one named after Blessed Ranieri since 1314. The church also houses the Corale Domenico Stella and Coro Città di Piero.
The church stands on Piazza San Francesco, with its stone facade and Gothic portal facing the square; the rest of the structure is hidden by houses along via Aggiunti, so only the bell tower is visible from elsewhere. The interior is a single nave, and the organ and choir are on the right and left cantorie. It is an active parish church, so visits may be limited during services.
The main altar is a stone sarcophagus with twisted columns, donated by the Comune in 1304 in honour of Blessed Ranieri, the Franciscan friar who died on 1 November of that year and whose body lies in the crypt below. A Latin inscription records the gift.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,044 contributors worldwide.