Why go
Begin with Piazza Grande’s sloping brick surface and mixed palace fronts, then compare the Romanesque Santa Maria della Pieve with the Gothic cathedral. The True Cross fresco cycle in San Francesco gives art lovers a reason to set aside a separate indoor visit.
What to look for
- Piazza Grande slopes past the apse of Santa Maria della Pieve.
- The Pieve’s stacked loggias and square bell tower differ from the cathedral’s Gothic interior.
- Piero della Francesca’s True Cross cycle is in San Francesco.
Useful to know
- Walk the historic centre first; allow a separate visit for San Francesco’s frescoes.
- The sloping streets and piazza make comfortable walking shoes useful.