by Redazione 26/10/2026
Categories: News / Disclaimer
President Sergio Mattarella admired Giotto’s *Stories of St. Francis* in Florence, in the Bardi Chapel of the Basilica of Santa Croce: the frescoes have just been restored
Giotto’s restored frescoes were the focus of the visit by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, who was welcomed this morning at the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence by the rector, Father Franco Buonamano, and the president of the Opera di Santa Croce, Irene Sanesi. The highlight of the visit was the Bardi Chapel, where the cycle of the Stories of St. Francis—a mature masterpiece by the celebrated master—has been on view to visitors since last September, following four years of intensive restoration work. These works, which are fundamental to the history of early 14th-century art, stand out for the expressive power of their figures and for their revolutionary conception of painted space, which establishes a new relationship with the real world. Eleonora Mazzocchi, head of the Conservation and Enhancement Department of the Opera di Santa Croce, explained the restoration process and the “Great Italians” exhibition to the President. The visit continued along the basilica’s monumental tour, where Mattarella paused in front of the monuments dedicated to Ugo Foscolo, Niccolò Machiavelli, Dante Alighieri, and Michelangelo Buonarroti. At the end of the meeting, the Head of State was greeted by the Franciscan Community and the Board of Directors of the Opera di Santa Croce.
For Mattarella, this marked a return to the Florentine basilica, following his 2016 visit to mark the completion of the restoration of Giorgio Vasari’s*The Last Supper* and his 2022 visit, which coincided with the closing ceremony of the Meeting of Mediterranean Mayors. The Basilica of Santa Croce is part of the heritage of the Ministry of the Interior’s Fund for Places of Worship (FEC).
The restoration of the “Stories of St. Francis” is the result of an in-depth study and a conservation project promotedby the Opera di Santa Croce in collaboration withthe Opificio delle Pietre Dure, which designed and carried out the work. The project was supported by the Fondazione CR Firenze, the Association for the Restoration of Italian Artistic Heritage (ARPAI), and several private donors, including Veronica and Dominique Marzotto, Jon and Barbara Landau, and William von Mueffling. The international #Giving4Giotto campaign also engaged people from around the world, raising funds to protect this artistic heritage.
The restoration has made it possible to gain a clearer understanding of the frescoes, highlighting their rich colors, narrative vitality, and the intensity of the expressions. Giotto’s ability to organize space and relate the figures to their surroundings has also emerged more clearly—one of the innovations that marked the transition toward a new conception of painting. The cycle in the Bardi Chapel takes on special significance in the year marking the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. The six scenes painted by Giotto are inspired by Bonaventura da Bagnoregio’s *Legenda maior*, a text that presents Francis as *alter Christus*, or “another Christ.”
The episodes illustrate some key moments in the saint’s life: his renunciation of his father’s estate, the approval of the Rule, his appearance at the Chapter of Arles, the trial by fire before the Sultan, his death, and his apparition to Brother Augustine and Bishop Guido. Through these images, Giotto translates the saint’s spiritual journey into a visually powerful narrative, conveyed through the characters’ gestures, the composition of the scenes, and his ability to make emotions palpable. The restoration now reveals the complexity of this narrative to the public, confirming the significance of the Bardi Chapel as one of the essential sites for understanding the evolution of Italian painting.
“The visit by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella to the Basilica of Santa Croce was a source of deep gratitude and sincere emotion for our Franciscan community,” emphasized Father Franco Buonamano. “We wish to thank the Head of State for accepting the invitation to visit this place, which is so important to the history, art, and spirituality of our country, and for taking the time to admire Giotto’s frescoes—recently restored—which once again reveal their extraordinary beauty to us. His presence takes on special significance in this year, as we commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. It is a precious opportunity to rediscover the relevance of the Poverello’s message: brotherhood, peace, respect for every person, and care for creation. These are values that do not belong solely to the memory of the past, but continue to challenge our consciences and point the way forward.”
“Today’s visit and warm meeting with President Mattarella represent, for the Opera di Santa Croce, the most significant and precious culmination of this historic restoration,” stated President Sanesi. “Care, wisdom, and expertise have characterized this project, which serves as a positive model of fruitful collaboration between institutions. To once again admire, alongside President Mattarella, the genius of Giotto’s art was deeply moving, knowing that sharing a universal treasure such as *The Stories of St. Francis* offers an opportunity for personal and communal enrichment. We extend our deepest gratitude to the President for this return to Santa Croce, a place of national remembrance and Franciscan spirituality.”
“Santa Croce preserves a history woven from faith, art, and the testimonies of men and women who have contributed to the cultural and civic life of our national community. Welcoming the President of the Republic also means renewing the bond between this heritage and service to institutions, society, and the common good,” added Father Buonamano. “On behalf of the Franciscan community, I express to President Mattarella our appreciation and gratitude for the attention he has given to the Basilica and for the significance he has chosen to attribute to this visit,” concluded the Rector of the Basilica. “We also like to see it as a sign of closeness to a community that, following in the footsteps of St. Francis, wishes to continue being a place of encounter, dialogue, and brotherhood.” “The love for our country, expressed by the great Italians honored in the basilica, as well as the power of the Franciscan message—characterized by the preaching of solidarity among people—find in our President an interpreter and an indispensable point of reference, even in the most challenging moments of our civic life. For this, we thank him,” President Sanesi emphasized.
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| President Mattarella Enchanted by Giotto’s Restored Frescoes: A Visit to the Bardi Chapel in Santa Croce |
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