Built in 1312 and originally annexed to the Convent of the
Capuchin Friars, the Church of San Francesco is one of the most evocative places of worship in Larino. Its imposing stone façade, shaped by 18th-century Baroque renovations, is especially notable for its finely carved portal.
The interior features a single nave and is dominated by a
magnificent dome frescoed in 1747 by renowned Molise painter Paolo Gamba. The fresco depicts the Coronation of the Virgin, enclosed by a celestial balustrade and animated by figures soaring in dramatic perspective. At the center is the Eternal Father, with the Holy Spirit on His right and the Son on His left; below, the Immaculate Virgin. In the pendentives, the Four Evangelists are represented – notably, Saint Luke is a self-portrait of Gamba himself.
The church also houses Neapolitan school paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. Of particular value is the canvas The Expulsion of the Merchants from the Temple, possibly attributed to Francesco Solimena, as well as a remarkable Way of the Cross series from the same artistic tradition.
A harmonious blend of architecture, sacred art, and devotion in the heart of Larino’s historic center.