Church of San Francesco

Cortona, Italy

Via Santucci, Gothic building erected after 1425 by the Franciscan monk Elia who is also buried in the church. Traces of the original building can be seen at the main entrance, at the side windows and the frescoes which are attributed to the painting school of <i>Buffalmacco</i> (15th cent). The side altars were added in BAroque times. The marble tabernaclen on the high altar is a work of <i>Bernardino Ricci</i> (17th cent) and is believed to contain a reliquiary of the Holy Cross that was brought from Constantinople by the monk Elia. The inner part of the tabernacle is a Byzantine piece of art dating from the 10th cent. The third altar on the left hand side has a painting of the Annunciation, the last and unfinished work of <i>Pietro Berretini</i> (also called <i>Il Cortona</i>).