Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi

The Church of San Francesco d'Assisi in Ostuni combines a medieval Franciscan foundation with a later Baroque interior and a nineteenth-century facade.

Why it matters

The church and the neighbouring former convent record the long Franciscan presence in Ostuni. Together they link religious life with the civic history of Piazza della Libertà, where the convent later became the seat of municipal government.

What to notice

The facade was redesigned in 1883 by Gaetano Jurleo in harmony with the adjoining municipal palace, formerly the Franciscan convent. The interior reflects later remodelling, giving the complex a layered architectural character rather than an unaltered medieval appearance.

Context and history

The Franciscan foundation is associated with a donation of land in 1304. Subsequent rebuilding transformed the medieval church, and the facade acquired its present form in the nineteenth century. After the convent community ended, the town adapted the adjoining complex for municipal use, while the church remained a place of worship.