After over a year’s work by skilled young fresco restoration experts in Assisi’s stunning Basilica di San Francesco, the late 13th century Cimabue fresco la Maesta’ has returned to its splendor.

The unveiling in mid-February took place in late morning after a two-hour presentation by the head of the Basilica restoration team, Maestro Sergio Fusetti and esteemed art historian Professor Elvio Lunghi. The presentation was held in a vast conference space called “Sala Cimabue” (“the Cimabue Room”), an ample auditorium hidden away under the piazza spreading out in front of the Basilica di San Francesco. 

After descending numerous flights of stairs below the piazza, one exits to a mozzafiato (“breathtaking”) view of Santa Maria degli Angeli spreading out below. Turning around, I viewed the massive round arches holding up the Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco rising like sentinels. Just below the Basilica bell tower, loomed the rows of windows of the vast Sacro Convento – the Franciscan monastery.

The first two rows of seats in the Sala Cimabue were reserved for Assisi mayor Stefania Proietti as well as restorers and art historians, civic authorities and the restorers who had worked for a year on the Cimabue fresco. In a fascinating two-hour conference, Professor Lunghi brought the fresco alive for an attentive audience and Maestro Fusetii presented the fascinating and insightful video on the challenging restoration project.

After the presentation, it was the group’s turn to view the fresco live. We headed up the nave towards the apse. At the altar, built over the Tomb of St. Francis, we moved to the left transept – and there it was. One of the joys of the day for me was the freedom to take photos of the wonders of the basilica! In all my years of guiding groups through the basilica, this was the only day where photography was permitted. Mille grazie to everyone participating in the restoration. Welcome home la Maesta’ di Cimabue.