San Gimignano - Sant'Agostino

The most notable feature of the Church of Sant'Agostino is a splendid cycle of frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli (1464-65) in the choir. Beautifully painted in a lively narrative style, they depict in 19 scenes the life of St Augustine (354-430), one of the great Latin Fathers of the Church.

In the lowest row are Augustine as a boy in Tagaste (North Africa); Augustine as a youth in Carthage; his mother St Monica praying for her son; Augustine sailing to Italy; his landing; Augustine teaching in Rome; his departure for Milan.

Middle row: his audience with Bishop Ambrose of Milan and with the Emperor Theodosius; St Monica begging for the conversion of her son; disputation between Augustine and St Ambrose; Augustine reading Paul's Epistle to the Romans (13, 13) on his conversion; Augustine baptized by St Ambrose; Augustine and the Christ Child by the sea; Augustine explaining his Rule; death of St Monica. Top row: Augustine as Bishop of Hippo; conversion of a heretic; vision of St Jerome; death of Augustine. There are other frescoes in the nave: "St Sebastian Clothed", by Benozzo Gozzoli (1524); "Madonna Enthroned", by Lippo Memmi (1330); "San Bártolo giving a Blessing", by Sebastiano Mainardi (1487); "Life of the Virgin", by Bártolo di Fredi (c. 1400). On the south side of the church, entered from the sacristy, is a 15th century cloister and the chapter-house.