Lucca artistic itineraries
- A journey from door-to-route Elisa Fillungo
- From Route B leads to Vittorio Emanuele Piazza del Duomo A journey from door-to-route Elisa Fillungo
Our journey begins Elisa door that opens on the eastern side of the boundary walls. Climb on walls and percorriamole until arriving at San Salvatore bulwark, then you get off preenda path of Quarquonia which overlooks Guinigi villa, now home of the National Museum.
National Museum of Villa Guinigi
I very much like entering a first visit to observe the beautiful main facade characterized by an airy porch and a succession of triple arches with resting on slender columns, a typical expression of the late Gothic style of Lucca. The museum houses works whose history is intertwined with that of the city, thus helping us to know as the figurative culture of Lucca in its development from its origins to the eighteenth century. This amazing journey begins at the ground floor with the exhibition of archaeological finds, as the remains coming monuments and buildings from Roman times, to continue to the upper floors where there are thirteenth century masterpieces such as the Cross of Painted Berlinghieri, like the fifteenth of Matthew Civitali Piet? and the sixteenth-century Madonna and Child with Saints by Amico Aspertini, author of the Bolognese painter frescoes in the basilica of San Frediano. The course concludes with works including outstanding eighteenth The Ecstasy of Saint Catherine of Siena of the painter from Lucca Pompeo Batoni.
Continuing along the path of Quarquonia arrive in Piazza San Francesco, which takes its name from the church that stands in this place.
Chiesa di San Francesco
Rebuilt in the fourteenth century, the facade was covered in white limestone which are huddled two arche, or burials, with Gothic pediment. Inside, the chapel Pagnini, are some of the most important frescoes are in Lucca, this is a cycle paintings by some attributed to Cosimo Rosselli by Benozzo Bozzoli others. Along the north side of the church sacristy are the fourteenth-century cloisters and the three already part of a convent.
At the Piazza San Francesco with the suggestive via del Fosso stands a Corinthian column on which is placed a statue of Our Lady, known as the Madonna of the Star. Crossing via del Fosso, so named because of the presence of a narrow channel that cuts the city from north to south, is worth watching Lucca "child" who is seen, with small houses on the sides facing. Walk across the road and then via Fratta Mordini for a short distance away when we meet Guinigi whose name comes from the magnificent palace that overlooks.
Palazzo Guinigi
Built in the fourteenth century by a rich merchant family, the palace is an elegant building in brick, which is open triple, and even quadrifora pentafore. It is surmounted dall'agile tower that stands against the sky, a few come down to us from the medieval past, when their height showed the importance of family. On top of the Tower is a lovely roof garden, built by Guinigi as a symbol of rebirth, where the oaks are planted centuries. From here we can admire a splendid panorama of the city and mountains surrounding.
Turn in the Golden Key and going to come right in Piazza dell 'which takes its name dall'anfiteatro Roman was in this place and of which the architect Nottolini wanted, in the nineteenth century, keep a record giving the place the current elliptical. Therefore enter in the 'arena', are arranged all around the buildings which house not only homes, but including stores, restaurants, shops produce. Captain in Lucca at the end of April we will be able to see the square filled with beautiful flowers.
Emerged from this square Fillungo cross street, up to Piazza San Frediano church dedicated to the holy bishop.
Church of San Frediano
Documented for the first time in his monastery in a card of 685, the current basilica was the result of many embellishments and restructuring.
The white limestone facade is decorated at the top by a large mosaic depicting Byzantine taste of the Ascension of Christ. Upon entering, immediately to the right, I very much like to see the beautiful Romanesque baptismal font in the circular basin are reliefs with stories of the life of Moses and with screenshots. Always to the right than to the door we see a fresco of a Friend Aspertini and bezel earthenware attributed to Andrea della Robbia. Rich heritage of the various chapels of importance not only artistic, in the chapel Fatinelli lies incorrupt body of St. Zita. Through the aisles note columns probably derived from the nearby amphitheater. Among the works in the chapel located on the left is to report the altar altar fifteenth Jacopo della Quercia kept in the chapel thirties.
At the end of Via San Frediano proceeding by Battisti lined palace Pfanner and so we reach the entrance via the Asili.
Palazzo Pfanner
This charming building, built in the seventeenth century, has earned some famous directors such as Mario Monicelli and remember Jane Campion who have turned much of Il Marchese del Grillo and Portrait of a Lady. We therefore as Alberto Sordi and Nicole Kidman the magnificent staircase rising the piano nobile. Inside the beautiful salt hosts a permanent exhibition of ancient costumes Lucchese. Overlooking from the balcony you can enjoy a magnificent view over the beautiful garden surrounding the palace and is attributed to Filippo Juvarra. Walking through the paths you can see in the spring flowering fruit trees and magnolias, along with the rate of plants and pine trees are located in this corner of the green. At the center is well shows a fountain decorated with allegorical statues while the other side of the entrance there is the limonaia topped by a balustrade.
At this point, take the lively and beautiful way Fillungo, favorite of Lucchesi and tourists, overlooked by the ancient origin shops, beautiful homes and elegant fourteenth-century local historians, like coffee Di Simo. In its rooms, with sofas and wood paneling on the walls, they were selected customers in time Verdi, Puccini, Pascoli, Carducci, Viani, Verga, Mascagni and Ungaretti have made this place the "salon of celebrity" in Lucca.
Walking in Fillungo consideration be given to the tower of the Hours, also known in the past Tower Lite because it was the subject of contention between rival families. It is the highest tower of the city where the summit is reached after having risen 207 steps of the original wooden staircase perfectly preserved. Arrived at the top you can see the eighteenth-loading mechanism manually resetting the public, which is one of the most interesting examples are still in operation in Europe.Top From Route B leads to Vittorio Emanuele Piazza del Duomo
Our journey begins at Vittorio Emanuele door that opened in 1910, is one of the most recent port of Lucca. Attraversato piazzale Verdi, you walk through San Paolino until we meet via Galli palace where Mansi.
Palazzo Mansi
In this manor, among the most luxurious of Lucca, the seat of the National Art Gallery. A visit to the palace Mansi is a chance to admire masterpieces by famous artists like Pontormo, Bronzino and Tintoretto, but also to see a collection of Lucchese painting and a collection of fabrics and furnishings, and especially to access screens that largely retain yet the original furnishings, as evidenced by the magnificent room of Sposi, wonderful example of Baroque style.
Return in San Paolino, and then all percorriamola take via di Poggio which overlooks the house where Giacomo Puccini was born.
Casa Natale di Giacomo Puccini
It became a museum, the house holds items, autograph scores, sketches, letters, photos, a series of paintings that belonged to the great musician, and the plan to which the Maestro composed the famous Turandot. Opera lovers can go visit Lucca to Torre del Lago, where you can visit the beautiful house in which the composer loved to stay for long periods.
Continuing along via di Poggio we arrive in Piazza San Michele, one of the most photographed in Lucca.
Church of San Michele in Foro
The church stands on the square where once stood the Roman forum, hence the name. Ornatissima the exquisite facade, Romanesque at the bottom, it becomes the Gothic style in the upper part. Here you can admire an embroidery of loggias pierced and marked by slender columns, each different from the others. On all over the statue of St. Michael Killing the Dragon. The interior houses precious works of art of Andrea della Robbia, Matteo Civitali and Filippino Lippi.
Via Vittorio Veneto take until you reach Piazza Napoleone. Commonly known as "Piazza Grande", was opened in 1806 in front of the Ducal Palace of Elisa Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon, which was married to Felice Baciocchi. In building owned by the Province are sometimes set up temporary exhibitions.
In July, the square is the stage set on which to perform some of the best known interpreters of the music scene.
Crossing the courtyard of the Swiss you arrive in Piazza San Romano, where, besides the homonymous church, has established a museum that meets the hearts of young and old.
Museo Nazionale del Fumetto
For those want to spend a relaxing time, fun, this is the right place. In the halls meet heroes of the printed paper, the characters of those comics that we all know, by Bonaventure with her dachshund in inseparable Topolino by Tex Willer Diabolik a direct towards his next daring venture. In addition to many boards, panels, movies, there is a section, "The houses where they live the dream", which again environments inspired by the places frequented by the great comic characters of the twentieth century.
Back and crossed the square Napoleon understood it in Piazza del Giglio where he was raised nell'Ottocento theater del Giglio. This precious box home was rebuilt seicentesca nell'Ottocento for the will of the Bourbons, whose heraldic symbol is in fact a lily. Shone throughout the nineteenth century the best hosting companies in the Italian scene, the most famous artists and works fine most of the major protagonists of the opera, from Verdi to Rossini, Bellini from a Mascagni.On the opposite side there are two beautiful palaces on: Paul, now a hotel, el'Arnolfini. Going away to arrive in Duomo square dominated by the cathedral.
Duomo di San Martino
Founded in the sixth century, was rebuilt between the XI and XIV. Before you discover the many treasures that are content, it is noted that the facade is set against the equestrian statue of St. Martin, the imposing entrance hall and elegant three balconies. Entered the porch stop watching many reliefs that decorate the wall on which to open the portals, you may recognize episodes from the life of the saint, representations of the months and even a labyrinth, a symbol of medieval Christian pilgrimage. Among the lunettes, the left one was decorated by Nicola Pisano. Once inside it needs attention before the Volto Santo, a wooden cross Byzantine revered seventh century during the night procession of the Holy Cross in September. And yet the paintings of the famous Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli, Tintoretto. Not to forget completely the Tomb of Ilaria del Carretto, preserved in the sacristy. Desired by her husband Paul Guinigi in memory of his wife died just twenty-seven years, this beautiful work was done by the Sienese sculptor Jacopo of oak and is a wonderful and important example of fourteenth century sculpture.