Church of San Francesco A jewel that overlooks the square of the same name, in the heart of Prato
The Church of San Francesco, located in the square of the same name in the heart of the historic centre, enchants visitors with its architecture and its hidden treasure: the Migliorati Chapel. The facade of the church, made with brick and green and alberese marble ornaments, highlights Donatello's artistic ability. The work includes a lunette by Martino Benelli depicting the Immaculate Virgin and a fascinating plaster oculus, hypothetically attributed to Michelozzo or Donatello, with the Stigmata of Saint Francis.
Built way back in 1228 and subsequently restored in 1902, the church has undergone a recent restoration work which has returned the façade to its original beauty and enhanced the stucco oculus. The church hosted important figures such as Francesco di Marco Datini, buried there and commemorated by a valuable tombstone by Niccolò di Piero Lamberti. Gemignano Inghirami, provost of Santo Stefano, also rests here with a notable burial.
Next to the church, there is a fascinating Renaissance cloister, commissioned by the Ceppo of Francesco Datini in 1438-1440. The conventual rooms extend around it, enriched by tombstones and nineteenth-century decorations along the walls.
On the eastern wall, there is the extraordinary Migliorati Chapel, a masterpiece of frescoes by Niccolò di Pietro Gerini from the end of the fourteenth century. Here, the vivid frescoes tell ancient stories, displaying artistic mastery and emotional involvement. Every detail and color conveys a sense of profound spirituality, offering an immersive and history-rich experience that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the very essence of religious faith.
The cloister of San Francesco and the Migliorati Chapel The cloister of San Francesco and the Migliorati Chapel
From the sacred setting of the Church of San Francesco a magical place is revealed: the cloister, one of the first entirely Renaissance structures in Prato. It was designed by skilled artists inspired by the school of Michelozzo, between 1438 and 1440, at the desire of the Ceppo of Francesco Datini, a generous charitable institution that supported numerous works of art in the area.
The cloister, with its quadrangular shape, rises with magnificence. Five large arches (six on the eastern side) with elegant lines and slightly lowered arches embrace the sides. These arches are supported by slender Ionic columns in sandstone, resting on a refined bench. Along the walls there are intertwined tombstones and coats of arms dating back from the 15th to the 19th century, embellished with decorative details from the 19th century.
In the first section of the eastern side, the arches narrow in an elegant succession, almost as if they perfectly frame three curved openings. These openings lead to the prestigious Chapter Hall of the Friars, also known as the Migliori Chapel. Here all the artistic genius of Niccolò Gerini is expressed. The chapel, with an almost square plan, is a masterpiece of late 14th century Prato painting. Gerini's frescoes, representing the stories of St. Matthew the Apostle, St. Anthony the Abbot and a Crucifixion, though ruined by time, come vibrantly to life. Furthermore, the figures of the Evangelists painted on the four segments of the vault stand imposingly.
The Cloister of San Francesco is an eternal beauty that contains the enchantment of Renaissance architecture.
Information
- Piazza San Francesco 10 - Prato (PO)
Ticket: free entrance
Accessibility for disabled: yes
Phone: 0574 31555
Typology: Churches
It is part of the itineraries: City break in Prato
