ITINERARY – BRESCIA
Monastery
of San Francesco
Monastery of San Francesco
The Church of San Francesco and the adjoining convent complex constitute a historical-artistic unicum within the city of Brescia. The Franciscan presence in the city dates to the 13th century when, traditionally, San Francesco d’Assisi, on his return from Bergamo, stopped in Brescia at the Church of San Giorgio. In 1248 the city of Brescia was affected by clashes between Guelphs and Ghibellines; the friars of the community began to take part in the situation to restore peace within the walls. The citizens themselves made a vow to St. Francis to restore peace in the city, promising to build a church dedicated to him. At the end of hostilities – in the second half of the thirteenth century – the new church dedicated to San Francesco was built, with a convent for the community. The interior of the church has a central nave plan with a presbytery and two side naves, delimited by twelve columns supporting Romanesque arches The wooden ceiling is of special interest because it has a coffered and beamed roof, according to the medieval architectural style. The building underwent restoration and expansion works, especially between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with the addition of chapels and side altars and a new presbytery.

Virgin Mary and Child Enthroned between two angels and Saints Francis and Anthony of Padua. Kneeling: Father Francesco Sanson and Saints Bonaventure, Louis of Toulouse, and Bernardino (high altarpiece, 1516-1517)
The Church of San Francesco preserves several works by the artist Girolamo Romanino. The most important work is found inside the presbytery, with the 1516 altarpiece depicting the Virgin Mary enthroned with the Child and the Franciscan Saints; the altarpiece is inserted inside a wooden frame carved by the sculptor Lamberti. In the background there is a barrel vault in run-in marble, with an opening towards the sky and the clouds, on which two angels rest; on the throne sits the Madonna with the Child. She wears a purple tunic and retains a particular expression as if to guess the fate of her son. The Child, on the other hand, looks gently at the Franciscan saints around him.
Info and opening hours
- Piazza Paolo VI, Brescia
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Every day 6.45 – 11.30 |15.00 – 19.15
Free admission