San Micheletto, Romanesque church in Lucca, Italy
San Micheletto is a church in Lucca whose north flank survives from the 18th-century rebuilding, in squared ashlar crowned by moulded hanging arches. The 12th-century church replaced an 8th-century predecessor, of which only a cornice and small pillars reused in the left flank remain. The portal on the north flank has an architrave from Biduino's workshop carved with a vine tendril and a human figure.
The building was established early in the 8th century and underwent fundamental reconstruction in the 12th century. During this renewal, materials and structural elements from the earlier structure were preserved and reused.
The dedication to Saint Michael goes back to an 8th-century church on this site; only a cornice and small pillars from it survive, reused in the left flank of the 12th-century replacement. The 15th-century cloister with octagonal pillars remains from the Clarisse monastery, and the complex now houses the Fondazione Ragghianti and IMT Alti Studi Lucca.
The former church complex now houses the Fondazione Centro Studi sull'arte Licia e Carlo L. Ragghianti and the IMT Alti Studi Lucca university. Access follows the openings of these institutions rather than parish use; the 15th-century cloister with octagonal pillars is the part to look for.
The 12th-century left flank preserves a cornice and small pillars recycled from the 8th-century church, and the north side keeps a portal architrave carved by Biduino's workshop, showing a vine scroll and a human figure. After the 19th-century suppression the complex passed to the state and now houses the Fondazione Centro Studi sull'arte Licia e Carlo L. Ragghianti and IMT Alti Studi Lucca.
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