Piero della Francesca's masterpiece in the basilica of San Francesco
In the choir of the basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo, between 1452 and 1466, Piero della Francesca painted one of the greatest fresco cycles of the Renaissance: the Legend of the True Cross, the story of the wood of the cross from the death of Adam to its recovery by the emperor Heraclius.
The frescoes are famous for their crystal clarity, their geometric order and their light: the dream of Constantine, one of the first night scenes in Western painting, the Queen of Sheba kneeling before the bridge, the battles of Constantine and Heraclius. After a long restoration completed in 2000, the colours shine again.
Tip: entry to the chapel is limited to small groups every half hour; book in advance. Then walk up to the sloping Piazza Grande and the cathedral, where Piero painted a Mary Magdalene.
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