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Church of St. Francesco (see picture)
OUTSIDE:
The church is annexed to the former monastery the origins of which go back to the XIII century, the foundations go back to 1247 but was rebuilt in 1424. The façade is divided in two orders, the original tympanum was destroyed by an earthquake in 1703 and it is decorated with an elegant splayed portal in fillets of slender pillars with a frescoed lunette representing the " The Madonna on the Throne between the Saints Francesco and Chiara" and embellished with a rose-window. On the left side you can admire a mullioned window belonging to the oldest building.
INSIDE:
In the form of a Latin cross, this XV century building was beautifully decorated with stucco in the nave in 1738. Among the frescoes still visible, worthwhile seeing are those on the walls and in the choir: "The Madonna with the Infant Jesus, Angels and Saints" by Nicola da Siena, "The Nativity", "The Trinity" and "St. Benedetto" by Bartolomeo di Tommaso. Among the paintings: "The Madonna, St. Carlo and the Blessed Peace" by Antonio Carrocci of 1658; "The Ascension" by Niccolò Circignani called Pomarancio of 1596, flanked by two paintings attributed to Perino Cesarei.
CHURCH OF ST. AGOSTINO
OUTSIDE:
This church, annexed to the former monastery of the Hermits of St. Agostino, is on the top of the hill near of the Rock. The building which, is undergoing renovations for many years, is of antique origins and is mentioned in a Papal bull by Pope Nicolò II in 1508, but it was then rebuilt in the XIV century. The façade in two skews is divided in two orders and presents a portal of work similar to that of St. Francesco, splayed and with fillets of slender twisted pillars. A very deteriorated fresco is visible in the impending lunette portraying the "Madonna on the Throne and the Saints Agostino and Nicola from Tolentino", of the XV century.
INSIDE:
It conserves traces of frescoes from the XV and XVI centuries; in the two underground vaults, one of which constituted the old church, and on the sidewall of the entrance to the Monastery you can notice remains of some frescoes from the XV century. The cloister is from 1480.According to local legend, this Church was built over a pagan temple consecrated by the people of Cascia to their goddess and later became a Christian temple dedicated to St. John The Baptist. Of the original artistic patrimony of the church and monastery which, is said to have been very rich, the only few remaining objects are preserved in the former Church of St. Agostino.
COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF ST. MARIA, OLD PARISH CHURCH, ST. MARIA OF THE VISITATION
OUTSIDE:
The present building, repeatedly restored, preserves on the north walls remains of the original Romanesque structure. The renovated Gothic style building has also been lost; at present the façade finishes in a tympanum with two portals from 1535 and 1621. On the right there is a lion sculptured in stone, being part of the old portico while the other lion is in the adjacent square. On the left, a niche has been recently brought to light and restored and portrays a fresco of "St. Sebastiano and the Madonna of the Oak-tree", from first half of the XVI century.
INSIDE:
It presents a XVI century bond divided in three cross-vault aisles. This Church conserves a rich and valuable patrimony of paintings and religious objects in the sacristy. On the entrance wall, in the right aisle and on the first pillar, remains of frescos from the XV century can be seen which, having been restored, reveal the signature of Nicola da Siena. On the right aisle there is a reproduction of the "Peace of the people of Cascia", with a wooden frame from 1547, a mannerist example of Gaspare and Camillo Angelucci, influenced by the Tuscan-Roman culture. The Chapel of the Holy Sacrament is decorated with an altar-piece portraying St. Anna, St. Nicola, St. Leonardo, St. Martire enclosed in a wooden frame from the XVII century and with a lively representation of the "Madonna del Soccorso" from the XVII century; at the bottom of the nave one can admire the "Stories of St. Carlo" surrounding a niche containing a "Madonna and Child" from the XVI century.
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