.San Gimignano - Pecori Square

Coming out of the Church and going bejond an arch (on the right) having a statue of St. Gimignano formerly on the Porta delle Fonti, we enter the Luigi Pecori Square. Mons. Pecori, Canon of the Basilica in the 19th century, was the best historian of San Gimignano. He wrote the "History of the territory of San Gimignano" published in Florence in 1853. On the right there are the ruins of an arcade which linked the Piazza to the ancient Cemetery at that time located where today is the sacristy. In 1482 below the arches was built a chapel painted by Ghirlandaio with an «Annunciation» on behalf of Giuliano di Martino Cetti. Aftewards, in 1623 the Baptismal Font was moved from the Basilica nearby the "Woman's Gate" (right nave) to the Chapel.
The place has been restored recently (1959). The arcades were reopened and the upper loggia restored; it shelters now the Museum of Sacred Art containing precious ancient sacred vessels and vestments.
(To visit the museum apply to the Basilica's sacristan).