San Francesco d'Assisi, Baroque church in Piazza San Francesco, Matera, Italy.
San Francesco d'Assisi is a Baroque church on Piazza San Francesco in Matera, displaying classical Baroque features in its architecture and facade. The exterior walls carry three prominent statues: the Virgin Mary in the center with Saint Francis and Saint Anthony on either side.
The church emerged in the 13th century on the site of an older underground church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, which remains accessible through a trapdoor. In 1093, Pope Urban II visited the city, and this significant encounter was recorded in a fresco still visible inside the building today.
The church is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, and locals gather here for religious services and celebrations throughout the year. The interior displays religious artworks that have shaped the spiritual experience of visitors across generations.
The church is located about 650 meters from Matera Centrale railway station and is accessible to visitors during daylight hours. Regular services take place throughout the week, so visitors should check opening times and be respectful of ongoing prayers and celebrations.
The interior contains a 16th-century polyptych with nine tempera paintings on wood, attributed to artist Lazzaro Bastiani. This collection of religious scenes showcases Renaissance artistic skill and remains one of the precious details that visitors often overlook.
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