Casa del boia, Historic palace near San Salvatore bastion in Lucca, Italy.
Casa del Boia is a historic palace with three floors located near the San Salvatore bastion in Lucca. The building features an underground gallery with barrel vaults supported by stone pillars that once held military cannons.
The building was originally linked to the judicial system and was assigned to executioner Tommaso Jona in 1825. Its role shifted after Italian unification, leading to new purposes and eventually its transformation into a cultural space.
The palace houses exhibits exploring pilgrimage routes and their role in shaping medieval society and faith. These displays show how such journeys connected people across regions and influenced local culture.
The interior is open to visitors who can explore the underground spaces and their original architectural features. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the stairways are narrow and descending into the lower level requires some care with steps.
Excavations uncovered the stone foundation of a medieval city wall tower that was partially demolished to make way for the bastion. This discovery reveals how the fortifications around Lucca were continuously rebuilt and adapted over centuries.
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