Basilica di San Francesco

The Basilica of S. Francesco - the church of Piero della Francesca

The Legend of the True Cross The basilica of San Francesco was built after 1322 and acquired considerable fame around 1450, when Piero della Francesca was given the task of completing the decoration of the choir previously begun by Bicci di Lorenzo, who died leaving the work unfinished.

The theme chosen for the wall frescoes was " The legend of the true Cross ", where Piero della Francesca managed to impress the subject with dramatic features well suited to the contemplative personality of the artist, creating an inimitable work and in its totality unparalleled in any other cycle of frescoes.
The tourist will notice that the episodes are not arranged in a narrative scale, as the artist preferred to arrange them following the principles of symmetry.

The chapel of the church has suffered considerable damage over the years, and the humidity has heavily damaged some areas and completely detaches the color from some parts. Despite everything, the tourist has the opportunity to admire one of Piero della Francesca's greatest masterpieces, thanks above all to a restoration work that lasted more than ten years. The frescoes are also clearly visible from the nave of the church, but we still advise tourists to get as close as possible to appreciate their real beauty and mysticism.

Useful information for tourists

Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo To access beyond the steps of the altar it is necessary to buy a ticket, while the frescoes can be visited with guided tours every 30 minutes by reservation. All year round except in the summer months, you can book directly in person at the ticket office just outside the church at least 1 hour before entry.
Price : 8 euros
Guided tours : 25 people, every 30 minutes
Reservation : 0575 900 404
Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 - 13:00 / 14:00 - 18:00. Sunday 09:00 - 13:00