Chiostro di San Francesco (Church and Cloister of Saint Francis), Sorrento

Chiostro di San Francesco (Church and Cloister of Saint Francis), Sorrento (must see)

The Church and Cloister of Saint Francis are near the public gardens of Sorrento, with stunning views of the fabled Gulf of Naples. The church was built in the 8th century. Originally it was an oratory founded by Saint Antonino, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, and reconstructed in the Baroque style by the Franciscans in the 14th century.

The church has a simple white facade divided into two parts. The well-preserved 14th-century portal is flanked by five pilasters, on each side, on the lower part. There are two arched blind windows on either side of the portal. In the left window is a painting of Saint Francis. A similar portrait of Saint Antonino appears on the right.

The upper part of the facade has a mullioned rose window flanked by two pilasters on each side. A scalloped roof front surmounts the crenelated edges of the upper side.

The church has one nave and six chapels. On the right facing the altar, in the first two chapels, are the statues of Saint Francis and Saint Antonino. On the left, we find the statues of Saint Rita of Cascia and the Immaculate Madonna. Above the altar is a 1735 painting Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata.

In the sacristy are several marble artifacts from different eras. In the reception hall, it is a 16-century painting of Madonna and Infant with Saint Michael and John the Baptist.

Next to the church is the monastery cloister of Saint Francis. The cloister was founded in the 7th century but ceded to the Franciscans in the 14th century. It presents a mixture of architectural styles. Two sides of the porch have crossed 14th-century tuff arches. Two other sides have rounded arches on octagonal columns.

Architectural artifacts extracted from ancient temples and buildings have been integrated into the construction of the cloister. The cloister is often used for art exhibitions and musical events. It is also a popular venue for weddings.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Sorrento. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Chiostro di San Francesco (Church and Cloister of Saint Francis) on Map

Sight Name: Chiostro di San Francesco (Church and Cloister of Saint Francis)
Sight Location: Sorrento, Italy (See walking tours in Sorrento)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Sorrento, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Sorrento

Create Your Own Walk in Sorrento

Creating your own self-guided walk in Sorrento is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Sorrento Introduction Walking Tour

Sorrento Introduction Walking Tour

The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus claimed that Sorrento was founded by Liparus, who also founded the city of Lipari on the island of the same name. According to the legend, three mermaids settled on the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula, enchanting the seafarers in transit through those waters. Even the legendary Ulysses had to use stratagems to resist the deadly song of the Sirens.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Sorrento's Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Sorrento's Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Much like many other places in Italy, the charming coastal town of Sorrento has no shortage of cultural heritage. The influence of different historical periods is seen particularly well in the center of the town, where a number of notable buildings have proudly withstood the test of time. Among these are several beautiful churches and monasteries that still keep some of Sorrento's valuable...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles