Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi
Franciscan church and convent of the 13th–14th centuries in Gerace, with an Arab-Norman style portal, the sarcophagus of Nicola Ruffo and a Baroque altar in inlaid marble.
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About the museum
The convent and church of San Francesco d'Assisi were built between the late 13th and early 14th centuries on the remains of an earlier Romanesque building, at the north-western end of the rock of Gerace. The complex is one of the most important monuments in the monastic history of Calabria and one of the oldest Franciscan buildings in southern Italy.
During the French occupation of 1806 the friars abandoned the convent, taking with them works and property. The complex was later restored and used as a prison until 1897; it then served other purposes, including a mill, an oil press and dwellings. The church was deconsecrated and suffered serious damage in the earthquake of 1908.
The complex comprises the church, the bell tower, the cloister with a well, the portico and a basement room. On the exterior, the tall single-light windows and the 14th-century portal, with decorations inspired by Arab-Norman art, stand out. The interior has a single nave with a timber ceiling of trusses and a presbytery with a star vault. Today the site is managed by the Direzione regionale Musei Nazionali Calabria.
Highlights
- 14th-century portal with decorations inspired by Arab-Norman art
- Sarcophagus of Nicola Ruffo di Calabria (1372–1374)
- High altar and triumphal arch in 17th-century inlaid marble
- Presbytery with an eight-sail star vault
- Cloister with well and bell tower
- Founded
- 1252
- Operated by
- Direzione regionale Musei Nazionali Calabria (Ministero della Cultura)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 10,209
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Combined ticket for the five churches of Gerace | €3 |
The ticket is a combined ticket giving admission to five churches in Gerace: San Francesco d'Assisi, Santa Maria Caterina, Annunziatella, San Martino and Santa Maria del Mastro. It is bought at the Punto informativo (Museo Civico di Gerace) and at the church of San Francesco. There is no reduced ticket; payment is made via PagoPA.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The site offers guided tours and has a conference hall and exhibition spaces. |
