St Francis of Assisi Church (Valletta)

Church of St Francis of Assisi
Knisja ta' San Franġisk
Church of St Francis of Assisi
35°53′50.2″N 14°30′38.9″E / 35.897278°N 14.510806°E / 35.897278; 14.510806
Location Valletta
Country Malta
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Founded 1598
Dedication St Francis of Assisi
Architecture
Status Active
Functional status Conventual church
Architectural type Church
Style Baroque
Completed 1607
Specifications
Number of domes 1
Administration
Archdiocese Malta
Clergy
Archbishop Paul Cremona
Vicar(s) Charles Baldacchino
Rector Arthur Saliba

St Francis of Assisi Church, dedicated to St Francis of Assisi (Maltese: San Franġisk t'Assisi), in Valletta (the capital city of Malta), was built in 1598 and was completed by 1607.

History

After a few decades, however, the church developed structural defects and in 1681 it was built anew through the "munificence" of Grand Master Gregorio Carafa, whose coat of arms adorns the façade.

Interior of the church

The church was enlarged in the 1920s following plans by Emanuel Borg, which also included a dome. This implied the removal of some of the frescos by Giuseppe Calì, which were replaced with others by Gianni Vella.

However the church still hosts precious works of art including paintings by Mattia Preti, Pietro Gagliardi and Filippo Paladini, as well as the titular statue of St Francis.

The church building is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[1]

See also

References

  1. "Church of St. Francis" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2015.

Coordinates: 35°53′50″N 14°30′39″E / 35.89722°N 14.51083°E / 35.89722; 14.51083

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