Discover the treasures of Siena: the Basilica of San Francesco
Posted on 11. Jan, 2011 by admin in Archive, Culture
One of the most beautiful and important churches of Siena, that we suggest to visit, is the Basilica of San Francesco, situated in the homonymous square.
It was erected in the XIII century, between 1228 and 125,5 and later enlarged, so the original Romanesque edifice being turned into the current large Gothic one. Is a place that keeps a crucial part of the history’s city, and leaves you agape for his solemn beauty.
The Basilica is changed because of a fire, in 1655, and the restored by Giuseppe Partini between 1885 and 1892; the edifice is on the Egyptian Cross plan and has a nave, a very large space for the stream of crowds of people and believers.
Among the numerous artworks in the church, we suggest to see the expressive Crucifixion by Pietro Lorenzetti (1331), and the frescos of his brother Ambrogio, in the third chapel, like Franciscan Martyrdom at Bombay.
Until 1460, this area of the city was outside the main walls, but at the request of Pope Pius II, whose parents were buried in the Basilica, the San Francesco area was included within the walls. Besides the artworks and very interesting architecture of the church, we remember also the Eucharistical miracle that happened here.
On 14th August 1730, some thieves steal 351 hosts, guarded in the Basilica of San Francesco and, because of the dismay, the traditional Palio was suspended.
Three days after, the hosts are found inside the charity box of Collegiata of S.Maria in Provenzano, so the people decide to worship the hosts. The miracle is that, after 200 years, the hosts are well-preserved, without any alteration. The science isn’t unable to explain why: chemistry analysis didn’t find the reason of this anomaly.
Now the hosts are keep in the Piccolomini chapel, during summer, and in the Martinozzi chapel, during winter. To pay homage to this event, in Siena there are some recurrences, as the tribute of the Contrade and the Corpus Domini procession.
History, religion and art are twined, how often happens in a special city like Siena, that is rich of treasures to discover.
