Piazza San Francesco

Piazza San Francesco takes its identity from Lucca's Franciscan church and convent complex. The open space preserves the relationship between a medieval religious foundation and the neighbourhood that developed around it.

Why it matters

The Franciscans settled in the area called Fratta in 1228, two years after Francis of Assisi's death. Their foundation helped shape this part of the city, while the later restoration of the complex gave its buildings an educational role associated with the IMT School.

What to notice

The church's pale facade contrasts with the brick fabric of the adjoining complex. Its scale and the sequence of convent buildings give the square a character distinct from Lucca's commercial streets. Nearby, the Madonna dello Stellario, a work by Giovanni Lazzoni placed on a column in 1687, adds a later devotional landmark to the quarter.

Context and history

The first Franciscan grant included an orchard and a modest building beyond the earlier city defences. A church initially dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene later took the name of Saint Francis. Expansion of the religious complex and the surrounding city changed its setting over the following centuries. Recovery completed in July 2013 adapted convent spaces for the IMT campus, connecting the medieval foundation with a new chapter in Lucca's cultural and academic life.