Chiostro Maggiore di San Francesco, Medieval cloister in Ascoli Piceno, Italy
The Chiostro Maggiore di San Francesco is a medieval cloister in Ascoli Piceno featuring twenty Gothic round arches supported by Corinthian columns. An octagonal well sits at the center and anchors the space.
Construction started in 1565 through a bequest from nobleman Giulio Antonio Santucci and finished in 1623. A Gothic portico from the 14th century was originally sealed but opened in the 1930s to create street access.
The cloister carries names and plaques honoring two popes who once studied within this Franciscan complex. These connections reveal how important this place was to the religious community.
The cloister transforms into a vegetable market for locals most mornings, except on Sundays and holidays. Plan a visit early in the day when the market is in full swing and you can see how the space is actually used.
A courtyard of water and stone tucked inside creates a quiet refuge in the middle of the city. This hidden retreat often goes unnoticed because it blends with the daily market bustle.
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