Church of Saint Francis

Exciting visit

This place is amazing

Very beautiful dating from the thirteenth century to visit

The oldest of the churches in the walls of Arcevia together with San Gianne which no longer exists. It was built on the land of Quido di Sasséllero (former palace) in 1274. When Rocca Contrada (Arcevia) decided to unite the powerful nobles of the area to become a "free municipality". Count Guido was the first to host the nascent Franciscan community in the Marca Ancona, in Sassellero. As they moved they brought the friars with them. The famous altarpiece of Arcevia by Signorelli 1508, of which today only three separate parts remain; one in Brera, one in San Diego CA. and one in Altenburg DE, It was commissioned for this church by the nobles Jacopo Simone dei Filippini di Palazzo, which unfortunately was sold by the impoverished heirs and with Napoleon ended up in Figino di Como. Later found by Ansemi. The church preserves some heads in the capitals attributed to the Sasséllero and a fresco of the Madonna del latte from the 15th century. The two canvases by Ramazzani were also originally found; Baptism and Ascension of Christ which are now in the museum of San Medardo. In 1741 it was destroyed by an earthquake. It was rebuilt perhaps paid for by the Marquis Mannelli Pianetti since they have a sepulcher here. Abbot Pagni wanted a statue of San Liberato dei Brunforte perhaps his ancestor and decorated by the great Genoese plasterer Lorenzo Bossi in an excellent "Barocchetto" style. Also stand out a beautiful wooden crucifix and a spectacular ancient organ of the seventeenth century, of the degrees organists "Fedeli" of Corgneto near Camerino famous operating throughout central Italy, although Arcevia in the fifteenth century was already famous for the production of highly prized organs. The stairs of the organ house the 400th fresco "Madonna del Latte". The main altar is the subject of complex perspective games designed by Bossi. To see the church, which is often closed, you have to ask the keepers of the nearby museum to let it open for you ... But it's worth not losing it to get to know Arcevia.