Church of Saint Francis 'della Pace'

Beautiful historic town and church

The Church of S. Francesco della Pace belongs to the Guild of Masons, Stonecutters and Congener Arts. This little temple represents an essential stage in the Festa dei Ceri ritualities ( here the election of the Captains takes place and the statuettes of saint Ubaldo, Giorgio and Antonio, placed on the top of the Ceri , are kept). The church was built on the cave where, according to tradition, the tamed wolf lived and it took its name ( S. Francis of Peace) when in 1584 the stone on which St. Francis prayed after the pact of peace with the wolf was taken here and became the altar stone. In the crypt it is possible to see a sarcophagus which, according to tradition, is from the tomb of the wolf.

Outstanding fresco cycle by Ottaviano Nelli amongst some other great works of art.

Is super

August 2020. The Church is located at street level, before entering the historic center. There is a large parking lot. The church is truly monumental. It was built around 1255 within a vast Franciscan complex thanks to the Spadalonga family. It was this family that would have welcomed and dressed Saint Francis after the abandonment of the paternal house. The construction of a large church and a convent dedicated to Francesco, a few years after his death, was strongly desired by the city of Gubbio, which welcomed and adopted him. The Church has an ogival plan, the façade has remained unfinished but retains a beautiful Gothic portal The interior is divided into three naves supported by 14 very high columns. The side walls that were once covered with frescoes have lost some of their splendor, but important works from the 13th-15th century are still preserved in the apses. In the left apse the Stories of the life of the Virgin are depicted (Ottaviano Nelli). In the central apse, at the top, there is a fresco of Jesus enthroned with Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Francis and Saint Anthony on the sides. In the apse on the right there are frescoes of the XIII-XIV century: in the upper part two episodes from the life of St. Francis, in the lower part the Redeemer in the center and the Evangelists on the sides. On the walls there are frescoes of Saints. Worth a visit!