Chiesa di San Francesco

The church of San Francesco d'Assisi in Castellana Grotte contains a dense Baroque sculptural ensemble. Dating to 1651, it combines a rusticated stone facade with an interior organised around seven ornate altars.

Why it matters

The church represents an important artistic strand of Castellana's history alongside the town's better-known caves. Its altars and numerous sculpted figures form a substantial body of religious decoration associated with Fra Luca Principino.

What to notice

The textured stonework of the facade contrasts with the richness of the interior. A single nave opens into a Latin-cross plan, with the altars providing successive focal points. Their architectural frames and sculptural ornament give the compact church its distinctive character.

Context and history

The seventeenth-century building belongs to the Franciscan history of Castellana Grotte, also reflected in former convent buildings in the town. It is distinct from the church of San Francesco da Paola at Largo Porta Grande, a separate foundation of 1614. The two dedications should not be confused: this church is dedicated to Francis of Assisi.