San Francesco d’Assisi
Via S. Francesco 1

Beautiful model of the transition style between Romanesque and Gothic, this church (1254 – 65) has been considerably modified during the centuries and has preserved just the grandiose and severe façade, in stone of Brescia with a beauty rose-window and elegant portal, and the western wall with frescos from the XIIIth to the XVth century. Of the same period are the enlargements by the building of the chapels, of the choir, of the sagrestia and of the wonderful cloister (1394). Inside the sober and classical shape of the basilica, is rich of painting worthy of note: the fresco of the Pietà (XIVth century), the important painting St. Margherita from Cortona between St. Francesco and St. Girolamo by Moretto (1530), the juvenile masterpiece by Romanino the Madonna with Child and the Saints and the big wood painting of the fourteenth century representing Christ crucified. Must be drawn your attention to the square cloister, in Renaissance style with frescos of the XIIIth and XVIth century, which introduced in the secretary and, in the middle of the aisle on the right, the wonderful big cloister, refined example of monastic architecture (end 1300) with red marble small column from Verona.