Basilica of San Domenico, Arezzo

The Basilica of San Domenico in Arezzo is a 13th-century Gothic church that houses one of the most important early works by Cimabue: a monumental painted Crucifix (c. 1268-1271). The wooden crucifix, over three meters tall, hangs above the high altar.

Cimabue's expressive treatment of Christ's body, twisting away from the cross with a new sense of physical suffering, marks a turning point between Byzantine and Renaissance art. The church's simple brick interior provides an austere setting that focuses attention on this single masterwork. Other frescoes and altarpieces from the 14th and 15th centuries line the side chapels.