Saint John the Baptist - Parish Church of Controne

Località Pieve di Controne, 55022 Bagni di Lucca LU

Documented as early as the 9^th century, the church by the title S. Stefano results as obtaining the status of Parish Church in the 10^th century, after having gained independence from the Parish Church of S. Giulia. In fact, in 913 this latter church results as dependent on that of S. Stefano, which, having become a Parish Church had assumed the title of S. Giovanni Battista. This Parish Church was destined to prevail for almost two centuries as the centre of the Controne area, a vast territory that already resulted as an administrative unit in the Lombard period, and was later owned by the heirs of viscount Fraolmo, progenitor of the Aristocracy of Corvara. The castle that overlooked the parish Church probably dates to this period. The church underwent alterations in the 14^th century, including the inversion of its orientation, due to a landslide that had obstructed access to the façade. For this reason the medieval apse was demolished and reused in the façade, while a new apse was adjoined to the original façade of which remains the upper part with blind arches with an overlaying lozenge decoration which would suggest a date of around the 11^th century. A new series of renovation works, above all on the ceilings, were carried out in the 19^th century by Giuseppe Pardini, also responsible for the arrangement of the presbyterial area, which was then decorated at the start of the 20^th century by Michele Marcucci. The church also conserves some important original interior furnishings. The 17^th century carved wooden altars can still be seen (except that of the marble Crucifix remade in 1831 after being damaged by lightening); at the first on the right there is a wooden statue of Saint Antonio abate, and near the high-altar a 17^th century version of the Holy Face. The marble altar was bought from the Church of S. Andrea in Lucca, in 1791. The church also has a valuable group of 17^th century processional insignias of confraternities. Of the dependent oratories, those of Guzzano, Gombereto and Vetteglia are noteworthy for their wealth of interior furnishings, now housed in the Parish Church for security reasons.