Church of Saint Francis the Greater, Gothic church in Padua, Italy
The Church of Saint Francis the Greater is a Gothic building in Padua featuring a large rose window and terracotta ornaments on its facade. The bell tower has double windows and a lead-covered dome.
Construction started in 1416 under master builder Nicholas Gobbo and the building was consecrated in 1430. It was built during a time when Padua was renewing its major churches.
The interior displays red marble columns and late-Gothic frescoes that reflect artistic development over centuries. The wall paintings and their styles tell of religious ideas from different periods.
The church is located on Via San Francesco in central Padua and is easy to reach. It functions as an active parish church with regular religious services.
The name 'Greater' was chosen to distinguish it from the smaller church San Francesco Piccolo, which disappeared in the sixteenth century. This distinction shows how two churches existed side by side before one vanished from the city.
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