Basilica of San Frediano

Piazza S. Frediano, 55100 Lucca LU

The church was founded, according to tradition, by Irish bishop of Lucca Frediano and played an important role in the Middle Ages: beginning with the second half of the XI^th century it was one of the most important centres of diffusion of the reformed Gregorian liturgy and the friars here became the spiritual leaders of several Roman and Italian communities.
In the mid XIII^th century the building was raised more than three metres considerably changing its whole proportions. In the course of the XV^th and XVI^th centuries the side aisles were covered with vaults. The side chapels were completed at the beginning of the XVI^th century when the Micheli chapels and the 'cappella del Soccorso' were built. In 1506 the prior of the convent, Pasquino Cenami, had the ancient 'capella della Croce' restored dedicating it to Sant' Agostino: the frescoes in the chapel are by Amico Aspertini. In 1858 great part of the bell tower's masonry was renewed together with the merlons.
Inside the church you can see works by Jacopo della Quercia in the Trenta chapel as well as the tomb of Pasquino Cenami by Matteo Civitali, a XIV^th century stoup and the altar of the Gentili chapel.
The church of San Frediano in Lucca is mentioned for the first time together with its monastery in a document dated 685.