Convento di San Francesco di Zungoli

The Convent of San Francesco (Saint Francis), also known as the "Convent of the Reformed Friars Minor" is located on the street of the same name in Zungoli, one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages.

It was built in the mid-16th century on the site of the previous Church of San Cataldo (Saint Cataldus), which was consecrated in 1167 and became a dependence of the Abbey of Montevergine a few years later. The pre-existing religious building, severely damaged by the earthquake of 1456, was transformed into a complex in the 16th century and, from that moment on, was run by the Franciscan Friars, still there to this day.

Today, the Convent of San Francesco still preserves the foundations of the ancient Church of San Cataldo, visible in the garden. Other parts of the previous structure have also been preserved, such as the entrance hall, with a fresco representing Our Lady of Mount Carmel, other works of art dating from the 16th and 17th centuries in the north-west part of the building, the wooden choir, a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary from the Baroque era, and a painting depicting Saint Francis, attributable to the painter Francesco Guarini from Solofra (1611-1651) or to the Neapolitan school of the 17th century.

A place of faith very dear to the local community, the Convent of San Francesco preserves centuries of deep devotion and highly valuable works of art.