to Florence. LUCCA. 52. Route. 355
with brazen wings. The row of columns on the S. side was added
in 1377. 1st Altar on the right: Madonna in Trono by Filippino
Lippi. — The Palazzo Pretorio, In the style of the 15th cent., is
also situated in the Piazza S. Michele. — Opposite the S. side of
the church rises the statue of F. Burlamacchi (d. 1548), by Cambi,
erected in 1833.
On the N. side of the town is situated —
*S. Frediano (PL 2; D, 2), a basilica of the 7th cent., founded
by the Lombard kings Bertharic and Cunibert, in honour of St. Fri-
gidianus, an Irishman, who was bishop of Lucca in 560-78. The
present facade was erected in the 12th cent, on the site of the
former apse ; the Ascension in mosaic of the same period with which
it is adorned was restored in 1827. The nave was originally flanked
with double aisles, the outer of which have been converted into
chapels. Most of the 22 columns are ancient.
The *Cappella di S. Agostino (2nd to ihe left) contains two old *Frescoes
by Amico Aspertini, a pupil of Francia, judiciously retouched by Michele
Ridolfi. On the ceiling God the Father, surrounded by angels , prophets,
and sibyls; in the lunette to the left the Entombment; below it, to the left,
an image of Christ found in the sea (Volto Santo, p. 353), drawn by two
oxen, to the right St. Augustine, baptised by St. Ambrosius at Milan. In the
lunette on the wall, on the right, St. Augustine instructing his pupils, and
presenting them with the rules of his order; below, to the left, the
Nativity and Adoration of the Magi; on the right, S. Frigidiano miraculously
checking an inundation of the sea. — In the Cappella del S. Sagramento
(4th to the left), an altar with a * Madonna and four saints in relief by
Jacobus magistri Petri de Senis (? Jacopo della Quercia; 1422). Opposite,
over the altar to the right behind the pulpit, is the * Coronation of Mary;
below are king David and Solomon, St. Anselm, and St. Augustine, by
Francesco Francia (covered). At the foot of the picture are four scenes
from the history of the Augustinian Order. The 2nd chapel on the right
from the entrance contains the tomb of St. Zita, the patroness of Lucca,
mentioned by Dante (Inferno xxi. 28); in the church, in front of the chapel,
is the ancient font, with unexplained representations by Magister Robertus
(1151); by the wall is the more modern font by Matteo Civitali or his
brother Niccolb; at the back of the first, Annunciation, heads of angels,
children, and rich garlands by the della Robbia. On the wall of the
entrance, to the right of the door, a Madonna and Child by Amico Asper¬
tini; to the left, the Conception by Rid. Ghirlandajo, both al fresco.
We now cross the Piazza S. Frediano, which adjoins the
church on the E., and turning either to the right or left reach an
entrance to the Piazza del Mercato (PL D, 2), the houses enclosing
which are built upon the foundations of a Roman Amphitheatre
dating from the early Imperial period. Two series of the arcades,
of 54 arches each, are still visible on the outside; length 135 yds.,
width 105 yds. ; the arena (the present market-place) 87y2 by 58
yds. — Remains of an ancient theatre are also shown near the
church of S. Maria di Corte Landini.
To the E. is situated S. Francesco (PL 3; E, 2), erected in
1442, containing the monuments of the poet Giov. Guidiccioni
(16th cent.) and the celebrated Castruccio Castracani (d. 1328).
It is now used as a military magazine.
Among the numerous charitable institutions of Lucca may be
23*
Permalink: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/ksq1g
