Church of S.Francesco Ascoli P. Italy

Ascoli Piceno Church of S. Francesco

Church of San Francesco
The construction of the Latin crossed temple began in 1238 after papal approvation was given to the Franciscans of the Convent of San Lorenzo, situated at San Marco, where the future Pope Niccolo IV had received his first teachings. A tradition wants the temple was erected in memory of the visit of Francis of Assisi to Ascoli, which had taken place in 1215. The architecture is attributed to Antonio Vipera from Ascoli, even though the construction of it required two centuries to be completed. It was consecrated in 1371, not yet completed. In 1461 the construction of the tower closest to the square was achieved, while the tower closest to the cloisters was finished some years before. In 1521 work was started on the cross-vault, beginning from the minor nave, previously covered only by a roof. The work was carried out by the Lombard Master Giovanni, known as Bozo. Towards the middle of 1500 the main dome was raised under the direction of Domenico Barotto and Defendente Lupo. The superior part of the façade on Via del Trivio, dating back to the seventeenth century, regains with its horizontal crowing a Romanesque tradition frequent in the local architecture. The bare and luminous travertine highlights the three magnificent Gothic portals, the major and the two minor ones, decorated with geometric, floral patterns and statuettes. The portal opening on to Piazza del Popolo is surmounted by a monument dedicated to Giulio II, the pope who liberated the city from the tiranny of the Guiderocchis, whose palace, burnt and destroyed by the fury of population, stood on the opposite side. The sculptural works are attributed to Bernardino di Pietro da Carona, with the dating 1506-1510. On the same face one can admire magnificent Gothic windows, the central parts of the gallery, the dome and the towers, which altogether produce a majestic scenic effect. The niche placed against the external wall of the first apse in front of the square is by Lazzaro Morelli (1608-1690). The interior of the church, of a rectangular plan, is divided into a nave and two side aisles with five octagonal pillars on each side, without capitals, but framed with polygonal shells. Imposing is the presbiterial section with its seven double galleries and three apses. In the left aisle there is a miraculous Crucified Christ in multicoloured wood, which is linked to lots of town histories. Once it was set up in Palazzo dei Capitani, from where it was transferred without suffering any damage after the fire of December 1535. Twice blood has flown from the Crucifix and the devotion in time has been such that l'inimici se andavano a basiare insiema et a gridare misericordia. Also interesting is the pulpit in travertine, placed against the second last column on he left, work of art by Antonio Giosafatti (1605).
The Sacresty conserves notable works and objects of art, too: furniture of the eighteenth century and paintings by artists working in town. Precious is the cross-shaped Reliquary, in embossed copper of the fifteenth century tradition wants to have been donated to the Franciscans by Pope Niccolò IV.

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