Chiesa e Convento di San Francesco

The Church of San Francesco, is the oldest Franciscan convent to be found in the entire Marche region. It was founded in the thirteenth century by S. Francis of Assisi and requested by the Acquaviva family itself.  Initially it was a very humble stone building dedicated to the Madonna, which was then transformed into a convent due to a large sum bestowed by Emperor Frederick II. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the structure was extended considerably and lived one of its  happiest periods. Unfortunately in the first half of ‘600 things worsened and this lead to the closure of the monastery in 1653.  However the monastery  was later saved  due to a series of miraculous events, which drew attention to itself. There was for example,the miraculous healing of Francis, son of the Duke of Atri Acquaviva of Aragon, who became cardinal and beneficiary of  the convent. In 1714 the church reopened and repairs were made. After the unification of Italy the property of the convent passed to the Ecclesiastical Fund which was then sold privately. In 1989 the church of San Francesco was completely restored and returned to the cult. Father Francis Angelloti , a scholar of Acquavivan history and art can be thanked for bringing the convent back to its original splendor.  The church has a simple façade. The square cloister, which opens the monastery has three massive arches on each side and a well in the center. The interior has a nave with two side altars dedicated respectively to St. Francis and Anthony of Padua. One of the treasures of the church is the stone statue of the Knight Loreto Giambattista Smacchia who lying down, holds his head with his folded right arm. He wears armour, a short tunic, shin guards and shoes shod. In the nave one can find  two plaster of paris medallions depicting the miraculous events of 1673.