Sansepolcro: Discover Art, History and Nature

Sansepolcro is a destination for anyone who wants to experience art and history not just in a single museum. The town combines significant works, historic religious buildings, the culture of medicinal plants and a section of the Via di Francesco. In addition, the Alpe della Luna Nature Reserve offers a landscape where cultural days and experiences in nature can be given different emphasis. This allows you to choose your accommodation based on whether you mainly want to discover museums and architecture or also include trails and protected areas in your trip.

Art and Architecture in Sansepolcro

A central point of interest for art enthusiasts is the Museo Civico di Sansepolcro. The Sala dei Conservatori houses “The Resurrection”, a masterpiece regarded as particularly representative of the artist. The Casa di Piero della Francesca is also of interest to architecture enthusiasts. The building houses the Fondazione Piero della Francesca; at the same time, the Casa is considered a fine example of 15th-century architecture.

The history of the religious buildings is also multifaceted. The present-day cathedral was created through alterations carried out between 1301 and 1350 to the original 11th-century Camaldolese abbey, which was dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. The Museo Bernardini-Fatti della Vetrata Antica provides a different cultural focus. It is housed in the Church of San Giovanni Battista, the first records of which date back to 1126. The museum was the first systematic attempt in Italy to create a museum dedicated to the art of stained glass.

Herbs, Health and Living Culture

The Aboca Museum focuses on the relationship between people and plants. The “Herbs and Health Through the Centuries” tour highlights the therapeutic effects of herbs and presents the history of this relationship, which dates back thousands of years. An interactive tour also explores the history, values and daily work of the company. Its thematic scope ranges from organic cultivation areas to laboratories and production facilities, as well as cultural events, editorial projects and scientific research.

For a trip encompassing different interests, Sansepolcro therefore offers several thematic approaches: you can focus on painting and stained glass, explore architecture and church history in greater depth, or learn about the culture of medicinal plants. Accommodation in Sansepolcro can serve as a base for arranging your days according to your personal preferences, without every day of the trip having to follow the same rhythm.

Via di Francesco and Alpe della Luna

Anyone who would like to explore the area on foot as well as visit museums will find a section of the Via di Francesco between Sansepolcro town centre and the hamlet of Gricignano. The route complements the cultural programme with a tangible hiking perspective. The Alpe della Luna Nature Reserve also extends across the municipalities of Pieve Santo Stefano, Badia Tedalda, Sansepolcro and Sestino. Its forests are home to fallow deer, red deer, roe deer, sparrowhawks and golden eagles. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between different focuses, including urban culture, the Via di Francesco and protected landscapes.

Getting There and Further Destinations

The arrival station is Arezzo, 37 km from Sansepolcro. Buses operated by Autolinee Toscane or Baschetti are available for the onward journey to Sansepolcro. When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore worth considering your journey as well as your planned museum, architecture and nature experiences.

For further trip planning, you can also find Montemignaio, Loro Ciuffenna, Pieve Vecchia, Badia Tedalda, Subbiano, Chiusi della Verna, Caprese Michelangelo and Gricignano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Arezzo.