The spires of San Francesco and della Badia church, the current cathedral, welcome the visitor whether arriving from south or north and reflects an imaginary journey among Piero della Francesca’s painted buildings. Sansepolcro town grew around the large Benedictine abbey and has kept much of the original urban mediaeval plan with the valuable addition of renaissance and baroque buildings thoughout the centuries.

Piero della Francesca was born here, the Museo Civico (City museum) housing works such as ‘the Resurection’, ‘Complex and Symbolic’, ‘the Misericordia Altar-piece’, ‘Saint Julian and Saint Ludwig’ bearing witness to this early Renaissance artistic genius.

The important ‘Volto Santo’ crucifix from the Carolingian period is located in the cathedral. The Mannerist Palazzo delle Laudi is beside the cathedral which is now the City of Sansepolcro’s headquarters.

Other artistic legacies in the city can be seen by crossing the old centre: The Santa Maria delle Grazie church and the San Francesco church. A trip to San Lorenzo church is a must where you can see the painting of ‘La Deposizione’ (the descent) by Rosso Fiorentino.

In the heart of the old town is the Torre di Berta square where there the traditional ‘Palio della Balestra’ (crossbow tournament) takes place every second Sunday of September - the costumes worn by the participants are inspired by Piero della Francesca’s paintings.

Every two years in September Sansepolcro becomes ‘la città del merletto’ (city of lace), where there is a national and international showcase of lace-makers.

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