Basilica Concattedrale of San Giovanni Evangelista – Sansepolcro

The first construction of the Duomo of Sansepolcro dates back to the first half of the eleventh century, dedicated to the Four Evangelists and the Holy Sepulchre: according to tradition, in fact, the relics of the tomb of Christ were transported to this place from the Holy Land by two pilgrims, Aegidius and Arcanus.

At the same time the monastery was founded by order of Emperor Henry II, then expanded in 1100 and inhabited by Camaldolesi monks starting from the mid-twelfth century.

In 1520, at the behest of Pope Leo X, the Diocese of Sansepolcro was created, separating it from that of Città di Castello; the abbey then became the cathedral of the place and was dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist, patron saint of the city. Since 1986, the Church has become a co-cathedral of the new diocese of which Sansepolcro is part together with the cities of Arezzo and Cortona.

The Church still preserves the fourteenth-century basilica plan with three naves; the central nave is covered by a trussed ceiling (the result of the restoration works dating back to 1934-1943), while the side naves have cross vaults. In addition to the main altar there are six other altars, four of which are located in the aisles, one inside the Chapel of the Holy Face, and the last on the bottom of the right aisle.

Inside the Cathedral are preserved valuable works of local artists, including Perugino, Niccolò di Segna, Bartolomeo della Gatta, and others.

The Cathedral of Sansepolcro, entitled to San Giovanni Evangelista.

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Basilica Concattedrale of San Giovanni Evangelista

Perugino’s masterpieces preserved here: