San Francesco, Gothic Catholic church in Gubbio, Italy.
San Francesco is a Gothic church in Gubbio featuring three apses and an octagonal bell tower built in the 13th century. The walls display detailed stonework and decorative elements throughout the structure.
The church was built by 1256 on the site of the fondaco of the Spadalonga family, who sheltered St Francis after he left his father's house; decoration was still unfinished in 1291. The design is attributed to Fra Bevignate da Perugia, though this is debated. The interior was rebuilt in the 18th century into three naves of equal height, and the facade was completed in 1958 with a rose window brought from San Francesco in Foligno.
The interior displays frescoes showing Christ, saints, and scenes from the life of Saint Francis painted by local artists. These works define how the church looks and feels today.
The church stands in Gubbio's lower town, and the entrance faces the open space by Piazza 40 Martiri. The interior is reached through the large recessed arched doorway; the left half of the wooden double door is usually closed and the right half open. The floor is paved in square terracotta tiles, and the central aisle between the wooden benches gives the clearest view toward the apse.
The church stands on the cave where, by tradition, the Wolf of Gubbio lived and was buried; the story is tied to the room nearby where Giacomello Spadalunga is said to have clothed Saint Francis after his encounter with a robber.
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