Chiesa di San Francesco al Prato (Church of San Francesco al Prato), Perugia

The Church of San Francesco al Prato, now deconsecrated and repurposed as an auditorium, is a historic gem in Perugia, dating back to the 13th century. Located in the square bearing its name and adjacent to the Renaissance Oratory of San Bernardino, it once formed part of the monastic complex of San Francesco.

Built as one of the earliest Franciscan churches following the death of Saint Francis, this single-nave structure held significant political, social, and artistic roles in Perugia's history. Its Latin cross plan, inspired by the Assisi prototype, featured ogive cross brick vaults, elegant mullioned windows, and a polychrome Cosmatesque façade, restored to its vibrant splendor in 1926 by Pietro Angelini. The original cylindrical bell tower with a spire added a distinct charm to the left side of the church.

The church faced severe structural challenges, including the collapse of its vaults due to hillside landslides, leaving it uncovered for years. These disasters resulted in the loss of its monuments and chapels, though a fragment of its original frescoes-amber-toned and featuring a lily associated with the Angevin lineage-remains visible in the nave.

Major restorations, begun in the early 2000s, transformed the ruined structure into a modern auditorium, following the innovative designs of Bruno Signorini. Despite internal demolition in the 20th century, the façade and historical importance of the church were preserved.

The church, once a burial site for Perugia’s elite, including Blessed Egidio, a companion of Saint Francis, stands above the ancient Church of Santa Susanna, which served as its crypt. This crypt, inspired by Assisi’s lower basilica, housed the sarcophagus of Jonah (360 AD), later used as Blessed Egidio’s altar. Over time, its frescoes and panels were relocated to the National Gallery of Umbria, the nearby Oratory of San Bernardino, and the Louvre, which now holds The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine, taken during the Napoleonic era.