Church and Art Gallery of San Francesco

The church dates from the 14th century: it was built by master builders from Como and San Marino, using materials from an older convent at Murata, just outside the city, which was moved here for fear of Malatesta raids. The interior was remodelled in the 18th century; the rose window, covered over in the 17th century, was brought back to light during the most recent restoration.

In front of the façade there is a small portico with three arches. Inside, behind the altar, there is a 14th-century wooden crucifix brought from the church at Murata, and a plaque commemorates the stay at the convent of Father Maximilian Kolbe.

In the 15th-century small cloister of the convent you will find the Museo Pinacoteca San Francesco, opened in 1966. The most important works are two large altarpieces by Girolamo Marchesi da Cotignola: one contains one of the oldest images of Monte Titano, the other shows San Marino holding up his city. There are also two small gold-ground panels by Niccolò di Liberatore known as l'Alunno and a late Gothic fresco of the Magi attributed to Bitino da Faenza.

The church can be visited free of charge, the art gallery is part of the State Museums. It is right inside the Porta San Francesco, the main entrance to the city: if you arrive from the car park or the cable car, this is the first thing you will encounter.