Basilica San Francesco
Basilica San Francesco
4.5
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Neighborhood: Saragozza
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
364 reviews
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177
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30
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Brad
Hong Kong, China178,291 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Basilica San Francesco is one of the important historic churches in the city of Bologna that makes for a nice place to visit while sightseeing around Bologna. It was constructed during the 13th-century and is noted for its Romanesque facade and interior which is considered one of the earliest and finest examples of French style Gothic architecture in Northern Italy.
Within, you'll find the tomb of Pope Alessandro V, decorative chapels and a remarkable marble altarpiece that is the work of Venetian sculptors Jacobello and Pier Paolo dalle Masegne (1388-93) amongst other points of interest. Outside the church, behind the apse you will also find three elevated tombs of the Glossatori that date back to the Medieval period. These are rare to find and see these days and are worth a look-see before or after walking through the basilica.
Within, you'll find the tomb of Pope Alessandro V, decorative chapels and a remarkable marble altarpiece that is the work of Venetian sculptors Jacobello and Pier Paolo dalle Masegne (1388-93) amongst other points of interest. Outside the church, behind the apse you will also find three elevated tombs of the Glossatori that date back to the Medieval period. These are rare to find and see these days and are worth a look-see before or after walking through the basilica.
Written March 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RonL40
Utica, NY3,720 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
The Franciscan church was founded in the 13th century. The French Gothic interior is one of the finest in Italy, with its high vaults, three aisles and remarkable buttresses and arches. Well worth the visit to experience the splendid interior.
In 1796, the church was seized by Napoleon's forces and its original artwork was dispersed. So the Basilica does not boast the artworks of great repositories like San Fermo and Sant'Anastasia. The tomb of Pope Alexander V is worthwhile. The high altar by the Dalle Masegne brothers is the most impressive artwork: a colossal ivory polyptych, in which saints in full- and half-length are set in tabernacles, divided from each other by two additioanl rows of saints in smaller tabernacle. In the cenetr is the Coronation of the Virgin with a figure of God the Father above. There are nine narrative reliefs below, fulfilling the function of the painted predella of an altarpiece.
In 1796, the church was seized by Napoleon's forces and its original artwork was dispersed. So the Basilica does not boast the artworks of great repositories like San Fermo and Sant'Anastasia. The tomb of Pope Alexander V is worthwhile. The high altar by the Dalle Masegne brothers is the most impressive artwork: a colossal ivory polyptych, in which saints in full- and half-length are set in tabernacles, divided from each other by two additioanl rows of saints in smaller tabernacle. In the cenetr is the Coronation of the Virgin with a figure of God the Father above. There are nine narrative reliefs below, fulfilling the function of the painted predella of an altarpiece.
Written November 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Agnese M 🇮🇹
Veneto, Italy22,728 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
Beautiful Gothic church, with some rampant arches outside, architectural element quite rare to observe in Italy.
Inside it is quite sober, but the splendid marble altar cannot go unnoticed.
Of course, all the walls also have altars with paintings to contemplate.
Arrived early, just before the tour groups, so a nice silence😉👍
Inside it is quite sober, but the splendid marble altar cannot go unnoticed.
Of course, all the walls also have altars with paintings to contemplate.
Arrived early, just before the tour groups, so a nice silence😉👍
Automatically translated
Written September 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jordanellie41
Longridge, UK1,151 contributions
Feb 2023
This church is an amazing sight from the outside at it's side and rear views. It doesn't look much from it's front nor does it have any particular qualities inside. However, the shear scale of it and the lovely grounds in which it stands are colossal. It's huge in length and at the rear on the main road you can see large steeples and domes. Inside due to it's size there's massive pillars and arches with it's main and only real feature being a beautiful decorative white sculpture with numerous small figurines and pointed features to it's peak with a cross at the very top
Written February 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hazel P
Toronto, Canada339 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
The basilica is a beautiful architectural, historical & religious landmark. The artwork inside is amazing. There is more than one level to this basilica with only stairs (as far as I know) to reach the other levels. I love St. Francis for his affinity for animals & his belief that love & peace is important for all beings.
We came to visit Assisi on the Greenline Tour. When we arrived in Assisi a local guide took us on a walking tour of the town. There are many twisting streets & almost every building seems to have some kind of art on the front depicting St. Francis.
At the basilica itself the souvenir shop is on an upper level. They have medallions, coins, snow globes, books, bags, soap, chocolate & many other souvenirs. I bought some medallions for friends, family & also myself.
I feel as if I didn’t get enough time to spend here. Someday I would love to come back & spend more time getting to know the town of Assisi.
We came to visit Assisi on the Greenline Tour. When we arrived in Assisi a local guide took us on a walking tour of the town. There are many twisting streets & almost every building seems to have some kind of art on the front depicting St. Francis.
At the basilica itself the souvenir shop is on an upper level. They have medallions, coins, snow globes, books, bags, soap, chocolate & many other souvenirs. I bought some medallions for friends, family & also myself.
I feel as if I didn’t get enough time to spend here. Someday I would love to come back & spend more time getting to know the town of Assisi.
Written September 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dennist655
Brentwood, UK31 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
It is a bit of a walk to get to from Piazza Maggiore but well worth the visit. Spectacular inside and very few people about.
Written May 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlexSwallow
Sheffield, UK1,653 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
This is in a pretty non-touristy area but not actually very far out of the centre.
We wandered in and first found ourselves in an unusual and memorable bric-a-brac sale set around an old cloister. We then found the main entrance to the church, which was enormous, beautiful and quite dark (the latter only added to the atmosphere).
The raised platforms (they look like open air 'tombs') outside the church were like nothing we had seen before- we later spotted them somewhere else in Bologna too.
Just around the corner from the church is a lovely street to spend an evening on- it was our favourite of our visit to the city.
We wandered in and first found ourselves in an unusual and memorable bric-a-brac sale set around an old cloister. We then found the main entrance to the church, which was enormous, beautiful and quite dark (the latter only added to the atmosphere).
The raised platforms (they look like open air 'tombs') outside the church were like nothing we had seen before- we later spotted them somewhere else in Bologna too.
Just around the corner from the church is a lovely street to spend an evening on- it was our favourite of our visit to the city.
Written October 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve_of_N21
London, UK3,377 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
The Basilica San Francesco is a bit to the west of the centre of all the action in Bologna but fortunately our B&B was on this side of town so relatively easy to find for us and its very close to Via del Pratello with its collection of interesting bars and restaurants. However it’s worth the walk to find this one as it is an interesting church of differing architectural styles, including having twin towers, set in its own Piazza.
Not the most ornate of interiors but the marble stone altarpiece is probably worth a visit on its own.
Not the most ornate of interiors but the marble stone altarpiece is probably worth a visit on its own.
Written June 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul Jeremy T
Oakham, UK30 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We visited a number of churches in Bologna and this was definitely the best. I am not a big fan of the rather overblown baroque interiors found in most of the Italian churches. San Francesco retains it medieval interiro with some beautiful side chapels and fantastic carved stone altar screen.
Written October 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill H
Victoria, Canada203 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
A little bit out of the way (but only by a few blocks) this church is perhaps the most beautiful of all of those in Bologna. NOT to be missed!
Written September 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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