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June 30, 2012 · 11:36 am

Alghero’s Enchanting Church of Saint Francis in Sardinia

Image via Wikipedia

St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) adoring the Christ Child (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alghero‘s atmospheric Old Town has some enchanting churches including the restored 14th century Chiesa di San Francesco. This church complex includes a convent and cloister that was originally built in the 1300s.

The church of Saint Francis blends Romanesque, Catalan-Gothic, late Renaissance and Baroque styles.

The tranquil two-tiered cloister is the oldest part of the complex and it is located in the heart of the main shopping district on Via Carlo Alberto. The lovely arched cloister is a venue for summer concerts.

Cloister of St. Francis

The cloister leads to the small chapel at the base of the tower. There are some interesting murals inside the portico of the cloister.

The left aisle leads to the sacristy that is decorated with antique furniture and wooden statues. The sacristy leads to the cloister that has two tiers of round arches. The higher order of arches in the cloister were added in the 18th century. The lower level arches supported by an alternating columns and octagonal pillars were original.

The church was re-built in 1598 after a collapse in 1593. It has a beautiful vault in the presbytery with some magnificent Baroque altars that resemble those found in St. Anthony of Padua.

The altar is dominated by statues of the Virgin Mary among the saints Francis of Assisi and Anthony of Padua in 18th century polychrome marble by the sculptor Giovanni Battista Franco.

The Altar of the Church of Saint Francis

On one of the pillars on the left has a 17th century wooden sculpture of “Christ at the Column”. It is carried in procession during Holy Week .

Christ at the Column

The sandstone facade has a portal with an architrave that is decorated with the Franciscan coat of arms surrounded by angels bearing the Franciscans of the Passion. There is a small rose window surmounted by an oculus above the ornate door.

Facade of the Church of St. Francis

There are some magnificent chapels like the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament built in the eighteenth century Baroque style.

English: Giorgione: Madonna and Child with St Anthony of Padua and St Roch (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Italy Trvel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com

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Assisi is a UNESCO Site in Umbria Italy

: Image by S Moses via Flickr

The town of Assisi in Umbria is a fascinating place to view Franciscan sites in the Perugia region of Umbria. Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Italy.

St. Francis of Assisi (circa 1182-1220) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Assisi is the birth and burial place of St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan order. The Franciscans take the vow of poverty. St. Francis and St. Catherine are the patron saints of Italy. Assisi is located at the foot of Mount Subasio. This medieval city is built on a hill. It is closely associated with disseminating the work of the Franciscan Order throughout the world; the universal message of peace and tolerance.

“Its medieval ensemble of artistic masterpieces, such as the Basilica of San Francesco and paintings by Cimabue, Pietro Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Giotto have significantly contributed to the development of Italian and European art and architecture.” UNESCO

St. Francis (1182-1226) was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on July 16, 1228. The basilica was founded in 1228 after his canonization. Completed in 1253, it has an upper church and a lower church and is frequently visited by religious pilgrims from around the world. The frescoed basilica is a monument to St. Francis. The Franciscans offer free guided tours in English.

Giotto di Bondone – Saint Francis and Saint Clare – WGA09163 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Simone Martini, fresco detail depicting Saint Clare of Assisi, (1322–26), Lower basilica of San Francesco, Assisi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pietro Lorenzetti fresco detail, Assisi Basilica, 1310-1329. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Crucifixion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Franciscan Allegories: Allegory of Obedience (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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St. Francis of Assisi renounces his worldly goods in a painting attributed to Giotto di Bondone. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dansk: Giotto: Udfrielsen af hæretikeren Pietro,San Francesco basilikaen, Assisi English: Giotto: Liberation of the heretic Peter,Basilica of Saint Francis,Assisi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the Legend of St. Francis frescoes at Assisi, the authorship of which is disputed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Prayer of Saint Francis

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen”

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