Sansepolcro Attractions
The industrial and commercial town of Sansepolcro lies in the Upper Tiber Valley, 35km/22mi northeast of Arezzo.
History
Sansepolcro (Holy Sepulchre) owes its name to two 10th century pilgrims named Arcano and Egidio who are said to have brought back from the Holy Land certain relics from Christ's tomb. An oratory was built to house the relics, and Camaldolese monks (Camáldoli) who were responsible for the care and service of the shrine built an abbey on the site. In later centuries the town frequently changed masters, but in the mid 15th century finally fell under the control of Florence. Pope Leo X (1513-21) made it the see of a bishop. Sansepolcro was the birthplace of the painter Piero della Francesca (c. 1416-92).
History
Sansepolcro (Holy Sepulchre) owes its name to two 10th century pilgrims named Arcano and Egidio who are said to have brought back from the Holy Land certain relics from Christ's tomb. An oratory was built to house the relics, and Camaldolese monks (Camáldoli) who were responsible for the care and service of the shrine built an abbey on the site. In later centuries the town frequently changed masters, but in the mid 15th century finally fell under the control of Florence. Pope Leo X (1513-21) made it the see of a bishop. Sansepolcro was the birthplace of the painter Piero della Francesca (c. 1416-92).
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Municipal Art Gallery
The Municipal Art Gallery contains works by Piero della Francesca, Luca Signorelli, and Santi di Tito, along with other 14th to 16th C artists.
Fortezza Medicea
This Médici stronghold was built on earlier foundations in the early 16th century, when Sansepolcro had long been Florentine. It may have been designed by Giuliano da Sangallo (1445-1516).
Monterchi, Italy
(Near Sansepolcro)
The village of Monterchi, 17km/10.5mi south of Sansepolcro, is worth visiting for the sake of its cemetery chapel, which has a beautiful fresco of the Madonna del Parto by Piero della Francesca, and a ciborium from the workshop of the della Robbias in the parish church.
Palazzo delle Laudi
To the left of the cathedral is the Palazzo delle Laudi, built between 1591 and 1609 at the time of transition from Renaissance to Baroque; it has a fine arcaded courtyard and is now used by the municipal administration.
San Francesco
The Church of San Francesco stands in the square of the same name. Of the original 13th century church there remain the facade and the campanile; the rest of the structure was much altered in the Late Baroque period. The church has a Gothic high altar (1304).
