Basilica di San Francesco

Large and interesting basilica. Most visitors immediately head for the frescos behind the large hanging cross at the pulpit. Be sure to look to the left just as you pass the ticket booth. There is a beautiful chapel serving as a war memorial to Italian casualties.

For most people the attraction of the Basilica di San Francesco boils down to one things: the fresco by Piero della Francesca. And to be fair it is an astonishing piece of work even if it does give you neck ache. His rendering of the History of the True Cross is vivid and alive in a remarkable way. Still the church does offer a few more attractions with other frescoes and creations scattered about. There's plenty of space and quite a lot to enjoy if you like Renaissance religious buildings. I can imagine that it gets busy in the holidays but out of season it was a delight.

Superb visit where I could admire frescoes in this Gothic Basilica with painting from the 14th century, houses one of the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance, the “Legend of the True Cross” by Piero della Francesca, the extraordinary cycle painted by the artist between 1452 and 1455 approximately in the Bacci Chapel.

Time to visit Piero della Francesca frescos formally limited to 30 mins, but, at least out of season, nobody checks if you leave on time. The rest of the church worth attention as well. You have to pay for ticket reservation no matter if you buy online or onsite. In October it was no problem to have a ticket for same day, only couple of time slots were fully sold out. A backpacks have to be left in a locker at the entrance. There is a toilet inside.

Because of frescoes which are the main attraction in this cathedral, are most important ones around main altar presenting The History of the True Cross from 1400s. In those times most people were illiterate and for them to understand Bible is to make it like a comic books today.....pictures that follow and tell a story. There is another story on the wall, fresco, that was amazing to me. Of archangel Gabriel.

Impressive historical church in the middle of the city center of Arezzo. You definitely will walk along this nice place and building when you pay a visit to Arezzo. We were here in September 2021, while it was not too crowded. We didn’t pay a visit to the inside because you can see the inside through a “door window”… .

Basilica of San Francesco is a Medieval church with the beautiful fresco cycle Legends of the True Cross by Piero della Francesca.

Piero della Francesca was an Italian painter and mathematician, whose work - centered almost exclusively on religious subjects - exerted a strong influence on many Renaissance painters. he gained his reputation through his artistic representations in perspective and through geometric forms, as well as through the theoretical knowledge formulated in his writings. To its recognition were added very realistic elaboration of details, refined color palette and bold decorative solutions. In 1452, Piero della Francesca receives the order for the decoration of the choir of the church of San Francesco in Arezzo, after which the cycle of paintings was born illustrating the most important episodes of the "Legend of the true cross", inspired by the story "The Legend of Gold" by Jacques de Voragine from the thirteenth century. The cycle contains six large scenes, three on each of the two sides of the chapel, as well as a group of smaller frescoes. The work on this monumental work will take many years, as the artist travels all the time and always accepts new orders. The fresco will be finished only between 1462-1466.