Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Ponte
Romanesque church of the 13th century in San Gimignano, part of the Musei Civici circuit, with 15th-century frescoes by Cenni di Francesco on the afterlife.
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About the museum
The church of San Lorenzo in Ponte stands at the end of Via del Castello and was built by the Comune in the 13th century, probably on the site of an older building dedicated to Saint Lucy (santa Lucia). The name recalls the drawbridge that connected the road with the bishop’s castle. The Romanesque building has a single nave covered by timber trusses and a raised vaulted presbytery.
On the left flank, from the early 14th century, a canopy protected a fresco of the Madonna and Child, of which the face of the Virgin remains, perhaps attributed to Simone Martini around 1310. The great devotion to this image led, at the beginning of the 15th century, to the construction of a portico along the entire flank, which formed an oratory adjoining the church.
The church and portico retain a wide fresco decoration carried out around 1410–1415 by the Florentine painter Cenni di Francesco di ser Cenni, trained in the circle of Andrea Orcagna. The cycle depicts the afterlife, linked to Saint Lawrence (san Lorenzo), who can save the souls in Purgatory, with striking scenes of Hell, Purgatory and Paradise. After centuries of different uses the church was restored in 1929, and today it can be visited with the Musei Civici ticket.
Highlights
- Fresco cycle by Cenni di Francesco with Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso
- Face of the Virgin perhaps attributed to the young Simone Martini
- Romanesque single-nave church with timber roof trusses
- Oratory of the Madonna del Prato along the side of the church
Permanent exhibition
- Ciclo di affreschi di Cenni di Francesco – Early 15th-century frescoes on the afterlife, with scenes of Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso, in the church and portico.
- Founded
- 1240
- Operated by
- Comune di San Gimignano (gestione Opera Laboratori Fiorentini)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
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| Reduced | €8groups of at least 20 people, school groups, minors aged 6 to 17 and over 65s |
| Children & teens | €8free up to age 5 · Free up to 5 years; reduced from 6 to 17 years. |
| Seniors | €8Reduced rate for over 65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities, for their companion and for holders of the European Disability Card. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €8 per personReduced rate for groups of at least 20 people. |
| San Gimignano Pass (Musei Civici, Collegiata and Museo d’Arte Sacra) | €15Reduced €12 for minors aged 6 to 17; also includes the church of San Lorenzo in Ponte. |
| Santa Chiara and San Lorenzo in Ponte ticket only (11 January–28 February 2027) | €6Reduced €4. |
The Musei Civici ticket (€10, reduced €8) also includes the Palazzo Comunale with Pinacoteca and Torre Grossa and the Complesso di Santa Chiara. Booking fee of €1 per ticket. Free admission also for residents of the Comune, licensed tourist guides and holders of an ICOM card; reductions and free admission must be documented at the ticket office.
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
| Good to know | Information and bookings: +39 0577 286300 or booking@operalaboratori.com, Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:00. |
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