Built on the upper reaches of the Tiber River, Sansepolcro is a historic town in the Tuscan province of Arezzo. It’s famously the birthplace of the Renaissance painter Piero della Francesca and the mathematician Luca Pacioli, while it’s also home to one of Italy’s biggest pasta brands, Buitoni, which has been based here since 1827.
Things to do in Sansepolcro
One of Sansepolcro’s most impressive buildings is the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, which was established as a Benedictine monastery in the 11th century. Its current plan dates from the 14th century, with both Romanesque and Gothic elements in its design. Marvel at the religious frescoes that adorn the interior, then wander through the cloisters of the Bishop’s Palace, which houses the tomb of the Italian painter Piero della Francesca.
Occupying a series of connected palaces is the Museo Civico where Piero della Francesca’s “Resurrection” is exhibited. This Renaissance masterpiece was described by Aldous Huxley as “the greatest painting in the world”. Also on display are paintings by Luca Signorelli and Raffaellino del Colle, together with works by Santi di Tito, a leading artist in the Counter-Mannerist style.
Another museum not to miss in Sansepolcro is the Aboca Museum, which is dedicated to the history of man’s relationship with plants. Housed within an 18th-century palace, its exhibits include antique mortars and pharmaceutical books that illustrate the ancient traditions of medicinal plant use. Also within the building is an impressive botanical library.
Getting around Sansepolcro
Sansepolcro is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Florence and about an hour from Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses connect Sansepolcro to towns and cities across Arezzo while the centre of Sansepolcro is small enough to explore on foot.