The Archpriest’s Church of Saints Nicholas and Francis dates back to the second half of the 13th century and was originally the church and convent of the Franciscan Friars Minors, almost certainly coming from the nearby hermitage of Montepaolo.
In 1783, following the motu proprio of the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo I, who abolished the Convent of the Friars Minor, the Church became a parish church and took the title of Saints Nicolò and Francesco. It preserves several works of art of great artistic value: the altarpiece (1500) by Marco Palmezzano from Forlì, the precious 15th-century Florentine stucco work known as “Madonna dei fiori” (patron saint of the city), 15th-century frescoes and Modigliani’s 16th-century “Saint Jerome”.
Source: “Castrocaro. Il patrimonio artistico, architettonico e ambientale di Castrocaro, Terra del Sole e Pieve Salutare”, di Elio Caruso ed Elisabetta Caruso. Società editrice “Il Ponte” di Cesena (FC) – 2019
