Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi

Facing Piazza Carnovale in Stilo, the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi combines a fifteenth-century structure with later Baroque alterations. The church is associated with frescoes attributed to Francesco Cozza, the seventeenth-century painter born in Stilo.

Why it matters

The church is a notable Renaissance monument in a town better known for Byzantine and Norman architecture. Its later facade and bell tower, together with the interior decoration, reflect successive periods of use and renovation.

What to notice

The church closes Piazza Carnovale, where the bronze statue of Tommaso Campanella stands opposite. Its bell tower is a prominent feature of the townscape. Inside, frescoes traditionally attributed to Francesco Cozza connect the building with the Stilo-born painter, whose career took him to Naples and Rome.

Context and history

The church dates to around 1450, with a facade refashioned in the early eighteenth century. Francesco Cozza was born in Stilo in the early seventeenth century and worked for ecclesiastical and aristocratic patrons before his death in Rome in 1682. The attribution of the church's frescoes to Cozza is part of the local artistic tradition.