San Francesco, Gothic church in central Modena, Italy.
San Francesco is a Gothic church in central Modena featuring a brick facade with a large rose window and a sixteenth-century bell tower with an octagonal base. The interior displays the evolution of religious architecture through multiple artistic elements from different periods.
Construction began in 1244 when Franciscan friars moved their monastery from a flood-prone area outside the city to its current central location. The establishment at this site reflected the expansion of religious institutions in medieval Modena.
The left apse displays a terracotta sculpture group by Antonio Begarelli showing thirteen life-sized figures in a Deposition scene. This work reflects how local artists created powerful religious images for private devotion and public worship.
The church is accessible during standard visiting hours, allowing you to view the interior artworks and architectural features. Its central location makes it easy to combine your visit with other attractions in Modena.
The fountain with the statue of Saint Francis, sculpted by Giuseppe Graziosi, stands in the small square beside the church and dates to 1938. Inside, the 1840 monument by Luigi Mainoni commemorates the end of Modena's cholera epidemic.
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