Chiesa e Convento di San Francesco

Maiori's Franciscan complex was founded in 1405 and rebuilt over several centuries. The church has three naves divided by sixteen marble-faced pillars, with seventeen chapels endowed by local families. Paintings from the Renaissance and a cloister garden preserve the complex's religious and civic history.

Why it matters

The church's chapels reflect the noble families who shaped Maiori. Its interior also brings together a range of painting, from local Renaissance works to a Flemish-school Calvary. The adjoining convent preserves the setting of centuries of Franciscan life.

What to notice

The apse is the oldest part of the present church and is covered by a lunetted barrel vault. Marble-faced pillars divide the three naves and frame the sequence of noble chapels. Works include the Coronation of the Virgin with Saints Anthony and Bernardino, attributed to Giovanni da Gaeta; a Deposition attributed to Andrea Sabatino; an Ascension attributed to D'Errico; and a Flemish-school Calvary. The wooden choir is associated with the school of Andrea Sabatino. The entrance portal has stone decoration by Andrea Frezza di Cava. The present facade dates to the 20th century and includes a majolica image of Saint Francis.

Context and history

The complex was founded in 1405 and damaged in attacks in 1435 and 1558, as well as by a storm in 1440. A larger church was begun on the present site in 1517 and completed in 1590. Storms and floods caused further damage in 1631, 1674 and 1910. During the Napoleonic period, the convent was alienated and the church passed to the city. The convent remains arranged around its garden.