San Michele in Foro

San Michele in Foro

The San Michele in Foro, is among the most beautiful and the most enchanting historic structure of the city of Lucca, it was mentioned for the very first time in 795. It’s an Ancient Rome Catholic Church that was built on the remains of the old Ancient Rome forum. Until 1370, the church was the seat of the Consiglio Maggiore, that was regarded as the most crucial assembly of the communes. The most important feature of this church is that it was initially designed to be dedicated to Archangel Michael. The mention of San Michele in Foro is found in the historical records of the period of 795.

It had been rebuilt after 1070 by the will of Pope Alexander II. The church is rightly regarded as probably the most frequented and enchanting attractions for tourist in the whole of Lucca, due to its superb detailed designing and magnificence. When the city came under the power of the Gigli, beginning in the sixteenth century, the church underwent a series of renovations, including working on altars and opening some windows. In 1866 the Architect Giuseppe Pardini restored the church, replacing several elements of the facade with modern works. The Madonna and child of Andrea Della Robbia and the four saints of Filippino Lippi on the inside of the church aren’t to be missed.

The top of the church is flanked by the sculptures of two angels, while a four-meter-tall statue of a saint. Michael the Archangel, and is positioned in center of the church structure. The statue was created and placed on the top of the church to mark it as devotion to the Archangel. The lower right corner of the façade has a statue of the Madonna salutis portus, which was fashioned by a great artist, Matteo Civitali. The statue was specially created to celebrate the end of the plague of 1476. The interior of the church has two aisles and a nave, that have been created to present beautiful pieces of artwork.

The two aisles have been designed with a transept design and have a semicircular apse at its end. The spectacular nave is supported by several arcades developed on monolithic columns. The San Michele church has a bell tower, created between the 12 and fourteenth hundreds of years, which rises from the southern transept of the building. The bell tower has a series of beautiful mullioned windows in single, double and triple designs, which add charming elegance and artistic beauty to the interior of the church.

San Michele in Foro
Inside San Michele in Foro Photography Flickr user:Andrew Robinson

Telephone: +39 0583 583150 | Official Website |

How to get there

  • By Train: Train is the simplest and easiest way to get to Lucca. Once you arrive you can choose to walk or rent a bike out, it will take you around 10 minutes walk to get to the San Michele in Foro.
  • By Car: The old centre of the city is closed off to traffic and many of the areas that do allow for cars are exclusively reserved for residents. you need to park outside the walls.

Opening Hours

During Summer Months 7:40 AM – 12:00 PM 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
During Winter Months 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Note: Opening hours are for Monday to Saturday, The Church is closed on Sunday’s.

Information

  • Architectural style: Romanesque architecture
  • Province: Province of Lucca
  • Recommended Duration: 30 minutes

Location

Address: Piazza San Michele, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy

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