The Cloister of San Francesco is located in a beautiful position of Sorrento, near the Sant’Antonino square and the public gardens of the town, that overlooks amazingly the Gulf of Naples.
While strolling through the historic center, one encounters the beautiful Cloister of San Francesco d’Assisi, one of Sorrento’s oldest monuments. Located adjacent to the church of the same name and the Villa Comunale, this captivating structure from the 14th century exhibits an architecture that is nothing short of unique. Built upon the remains of a 7th-century monastery, the cloister seamlessly blends the typically 14th-century style with elements from later periods, incorporating remnants from pagan temples and other archaeological excavations.
Interestingly, the columns of the arches are all different in height and decoration. This feature contributes to the magic of this place, especially at certain times of the day, when the sun’s rays create a suggestive play of light and shadow with the columns. In the center is a tree with a sloping trunk that frames the many weddings celebrated inside the cloister, while on the right stands the bell tower.
In the center, there stands a tree with an inclined trunk, serving as a backdrop for the many weddings held within the cloister, while on the right, the bell tower soars above the walls. Additionally, restored in the early decades of the 20th century, the cloister is now a venue for classical music concerts and other civic events.
Rich in flowers, plants and ornamental trees, the cloister resembles a fairy tale, with its typical arched structure and the melodious song of the birds that, in spring, choose this spot as their favorite residence, it seems to transport the visitor to an ancient fairy tale of the Arab world. Visit it on a splendid sunny day, in the shade of the porticoes or under a tree, and you’ll be able to savor all the magic of a place enveloped in silence, colored by beautiful flowers made brilliant by the sunlight and rich in fragrances that mingle in the air.