Visit Sansepolcro
The Italian town of Sansepolcro is found towards the very eastern edge of Tuscany (hence closer to the Adriatic than to the Mediterranean).
Your visit to Sansepolcro can at the Piazza Torre di Berta, so called because it includes "Torre di Berta", a 13th century tower. The square is situated in the Old Town, which is divided into four by two main roads that have their meeting point in the important square: it is here that you can see the Pichi (XVI century) and Giovagnoli (XIII century) Palaces.
Along Via Matteotti is the Sansepolcro Cathedral (XIV century), dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. Inside the cathedral there are some extraordinary works by artists such as Perugino [1450 ca.-1523] ("The Ascension of Christ"), Bartolomeo della Gatta (1448-1502), Santi di Tito [1536-1603] ( "The Doubting Thomas") and a wooden crucifix of the tenth century, called the "Holy Face".
Next to the Duomo (cathedral) is the Palazzo delle Laudi ["Palace of Praises"] (XVI century), erected as part of a project by Alberto Alberti (1525 ca.-1598 ca.) and with a beautiful interior courtyard, designed in the 16th century by Antonio Cantagallina, a local architect. The façade is embellished by a large portal.
Opposite the Cathedral the route is lined with buildings dating from the 14th century and also the more recent Aggiunti Palace (XVII century). The bottom of the road is closed by Praetorian Palace (XIV century), once the seat of Florentine government, and richly decorated with several coats of arms in majolica from Luca della Robbia’s school (1400-1481).
Civic Museum and Art gallery: In Via Agghianti you will find the City Hall, seat of the Civic Museum. The Art Gallery has an impressive collection of 15th-16th century paintings by Jacopo Bassano, Pontormo, and, above all Piero della Francesca, born and raised in Sansepolcro, and including the famous “Resurrection of Christ” (see picture), a work from the painter probably dating from 1460, and very vigorous and forward-looking. "The Resurrection of Christ" is full of symbols that refer to the ideas of 'awakening' and 'resurrection' (eg the trees on the left are dry, those on the right in full bloom) - hence they are symbols of the "awakening of nature" and thus the "Resurrection of Christ."
Among the other notable artists in the Museum we include Luca Signorelli [1445-1523] ( "The Crucifixion"), Gerino da Pistoia (1480-1529), Raffaellino del Colle (1495-1556), and Giovanni de Vecchi (1536-1614).
Continuing your tour, in the Piazza San Francesco is the gothic style Church of St. Francis, with a nave (remodeled in the eighteenth century). Next to it is the Cloister, which has a gothic style portal. Adjacent stands the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie: the building was begun in 1518, and it has a carved wooden portal and inside there is a wooden ceiling and a “Madonna delle Grazie” by Raffaellino del Colle.
After the Loggia della Visitazione [Lodge of the Visitation], we find one of the most famous buildings of Sansepolcro, the Casa di Piero della Francesca, where the artist was born. It is an elegant building that, it is said, to have been designed by Piero himself, with an architecture which, for the portal and windows, seems very reminiscent of Michelozzi’s style (1396-1472). A little below, we can see the Medici Fortress, from the XVI century and commissioned by Cosimo I de Medici, with angular bastions and built on a project by Giuliano da Sangallo (1484-1546), who incorporated the existing fortifications.
Continuing along Via XX Settembre, we are faced with a continuous succession of imposing mansions, built by the most powerful families in the city, such as Bofolci Palace; the palaces and towers of the Pichi and Turrini Families; Palazzo Ducci-Del Rosso, now seat of the Civic Library.
To conclude your visit to Sansepolcro head for the Porta Fiorentina, the only surviving city gate of the four that originally stood here. From here we can go to the Church of San Lorenzo, famous because it contains "The Deposition of Christ", by Rosso Fiorentino (1495-1540).
Sansepolcro - culture and cuisine
Sansepolcro is a city of great artistic traditions, which are reflected in various activities and lively folk performances, such as the famous "Palio della Balestra", which takes place during the so-called "‘Biturgense’ September" ("September of Biturgia") - so called because Sansepolcro, through this festival, recalls its origins with the Bituriges Gauls. The “Palio” dates back to the fifteenth century, and it sees the crossbowmen of Sansepolcro competing against rivals from Gubbio. (Learn more of the origins of the town at history of Sansepolcro.)
With regard to the traditional cuisine and local products try the “Fiera di Mezza Quaresima” [“mid-Lent Fair”], which promotes typical local products such as mushrooms, cheese, fresh and seasoned meats, chestnuts, truffles, fruit and vegetables, pulses, flour, oil, wine, jams, honey, plants, flowers, plus other typical objects of local handicrafts.