Church of San Niccolò

Located in Piazza Busatti, the Church of San Niccolò in Sorano took nearly 200 years to complete. It’s no joke, it was started in the 13th century and finally finished in 1509.

But the wait was worth it. This is the most beautiful and most loved church in Sorano in every sense.

In the 18th century it was heavily restructured and the left nave and the Chapel of the Crucifix were added, while the central nave was enlarged. Unfortunately, during these renovation works, much of the medieval and Romanesque architectural details that characterized the original church were lost.

However, the church holds a special place in the hearts of the locals. I think it has something to do with the artwork that adorns every inch of its interior.

They vary in age, but all the pieces were beautifully chosen and reflect the old school way of thinking, where only the most stunning and skillfully painted/carved/sculpted works could adorn church walls.

The main exquisite “Madonna del Buon Consiglio”, donated by Cosimo II de’Medici in the 17th century, is a testimony to this way of thinking. It will leave you speechless with its rich details and expressive characters. The shading is so precise that the Madonna and saints all look 3D.

Other Renaissance works in the church are by the famous local artist Raffaello Vanni, who painted both the Madonna and St Dominic. Also worth keeping an eye on is the octagonal baptismal font, built in 1549.