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Diego Delso CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo

Church

Arezzo's Basilica of San Francesco contains Piero della Francesca's Bacci Chapel fresco cycle, a key Renaissance work; visitors come for the frescoes, Gothic church fabric and nearby medieval streets.

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Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo essentials

Country: Italy
Driest months: Jun-Aug
Pay in: Euro (€)
Language: Italian
Emergency: 113

Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo at a Glance

About Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo

The Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo, Tuscany, is a Franciscan church best known for its chapel decorated by Piero della Francesca. The basilica dates to the medieval period and combines Gothic architecture with later interior decoration.

The main highlight is the mid-15th-century fresco cycle The Legend of the True Cross in the Bacci Chapel, a sequence of narrative scenes painted by Piero della Francesca. Visitors generally come to see this cycle and the chapel’s intact pictorial program.

The church was constructed by the Franciscan order in the 13th and 14th centuries and has served as a parish and monastic site; the Bacci Chapel frescoes were commissioned in the 1450s and executed by Piero and his workshop.

Located in the historic centre of Arezzo, the basilica sits near Piazza Grande and is easily reached on foot from the town centre.

  • Piero della Francesca frescoes: Houses Piero della Francesca’s mid-15th-century fresco cycle ‘The Legend of the True Cross’, considered a major work of Early Renaissance painting.
  • Architectural type: The basilica is Franciscan and retains Gothic architectural elements with a simple nave and side chapels.

What to See#

  • Bacci Chapel: The Bacci Chapel contains the celebrated fresco cycle by Piero della Francesca, The Legend of the True Cross, painted in the mid-15th century and occupying the chapel walls.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo

Best to visit the Basilica of San Francesco in spring or early autumn for pleasant outside conditions and moderate indoor crowds.

Shoulder seasons (best overall)
April-June, September-October · 10-25°C (outside)
The Basilica is indoors - spring and early autumn offer pleasant outside weather for combining the visit with walking the town and generally moderate visitor numbers.
High season
July-August · 22-32°C (outside)
Summer brings more tourists to Tuscany; the basilica will be busier and nearby streets hotter, though interior visits remain possible.
Low season
November-March · 2-12°C (outside)
Winter months are quieter with fewer visitors inside the basilica, making it easier to view interior features with minimal crowds.

Weather & Climate near Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo

Climate

Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 29°C. Moderate rainfall (826 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 52 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
40°
Warmest Month
-11°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 1° - 9° 4° 53 mm partly cloudy 90% 1.5 m/s 0.2 low 9.2h
February Acceptable 2° - 10° 5° 63 mm partly cloudy 87% 1.8 m/s 0.3 low 10.3h
March Acceptable 4° - 13° 7° 64 mm partly cloudy 82% 2.2 m/s 0.6 moderate 11.8h
April Good 7° - 17° 12° 76 mm partly cloudy 78% 2.1 m/s 1.0 high 13.3h
May Good 10° - 22° 16° 71 mm partly cloudy 73% 1.8 m/s 1.5 high 14.5h
June Excellent 14° - 26° 20° 67 mm some cloud 62% 1.9 m/s 1.9 very high 15.2h
July Ideal 16° - 29° 23° 38 mm mostly sunny 53% 2.0 m/s 2.0 very high 14.9h
August Excellent 16° - 29° 23° 50 mm mostly sunny 55% 1.8 m/s 1.6 very high 13.8h
September Very Good 14° - 25° 19° 76 mm partly cloudy 67% 1.6 m/s 1.0 high 12.4h
October Good 10° - 19° 15° 97 mm partly cloudy 79% 1.6 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.9h
November Acceptable 5° - 13° 9° 97 mm overcast 88% 1.5 m/s 0.2 low 9.5h
December Acceptable 2° - 9° 5° 74 mm partly cloudy 91% 1.6 m/s 0.1 low 8.8h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo

The Basilica of San Francesco is in Arezzo’s historic centre (Piazza San Francesco). From Arezzo railway station it’s about a 15-20 minute walk (roughly 1 km) into the town centre; local taxis and city buses also connect the station with the historic centre. By car from Florence follow the A1/E35 motorway southeast to Arezzo - the driving distance is about 80-90 km (roughly 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic).

Tips for Visiting Basilica of San Francesco, Arezzo

  • Prioritise the Bacci Chapel on arrival-Piero della Francesca's cycle (The Legend of the True Cross) is the highlight and can be crowded at peak times.
  • Check the basilica's opening hours and mass schedule before you go so you can visit the frescoes outside service times and avoid interruptions.