The world of show business mourns Patrick Stewart, the British actor who entered the collective imagination by portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the iconic Star Trek saga and Professor Charles Xavier in the X‑Men films. A career spanning more than six decades, across cinema, television and, above all, theatre, where he first stepped onto the stage as a Shakespearean performer.
There is a place in Tuscany that had won his heart, so much so that it drew from him a declaration of genuine admiration: a small town in the province of Arezzo. Sir Patrick Stewart had visited Sansepolcro to admire up close the celebrated Resurrection by Piero della Francesca, being struck not only by the masterpiece but also by the beauty of the town.
Sansepolcro, the Tuscan village that conquered Captain Picard
It was April 19, 2018 when Patrick Stewart arrived in Sansepolcro, in the province of Arezzo, to visit the Resurrection by Piero della Francesca, housed in the Civic Museum. The actor, known worldwide for having worn the captain’s uniform of the Enterprise, did not go unnoticed and was quickly recognized by the Culture Councillor Gabriele Marconcini and by the museum staff.
During the visit, Stewart confessed that he had come to the city to admire the Renaissance masterpiece, but he was left impressed above all by the charm of the village. “You are fortunate to live in a wonderful place,” he told the councillor, leaving a testament of appreciation that still today tells how Sansepolcro can surprise even international visitors.
Resurrection is one of Piero della Francesca’s most famous works, the artist born right in Sansepolcro. Created in the 15th century, it portrays Christ rising from the tomb and asserts his solemn figure at the center of the composition. A painting of extraordinary artistic importance, so much so that it is regarded as one of the symbols of the Italian Renaissance.
The actor’s visit came at a moment of particular significance for the museum, which at that time was also featured by a television crew dedicated to the restoration of the work, produced by Rai for the Uno Mattina program.
From Lucca to Pisa, the other Tuscan stops of Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart’s love for Tuscany did not stop at Sansepolcro. In October 2019 the actor returned to the region with some members of the Star Trek: Picard cast, the series marking the beloved captain’s return to the screen. The group made a stop in Pisa, where they visited the Piazza dei Miracoli, with its extraordinary monumental complex, the Leaning Tower and the Museum of the Opera del Duomo.
A few days later, on November 1, Stewart headed to Lucca to take part in Lucca Comics & Games, on the occasion of the presentation of the new series. The public reception was warm, and the actor spoke of his bond with the city, explaining that his wife Sunny Ozell had studied art in Lucca a few years earlier. The two had greatly appreciated the historic center and its atmosphere, as well as the local cuisine.
During the gathering at the Theatre of the Giglio, before a crowded audience, Stewart also offered the public a special moment by reciting some verses from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare, a tribute to his theatrical roots. On that occasion he left his footprints and signature in the Lucca Walk of Fame of the festival, joining the artists who have paid homage to the Lucca festival.
