Lucca San Michele in Foro basilica cathedral
San Michele in Foro is a Roman Catholic basilica church in Lucca, Tuscany, central Italy, built over the ancient Roman forum. Until 1370 it was the seat of the Consiglio Maggiore (Major Council), the commune's most important assembly. It is dedicated to Archangel Michael. The church is mentioned for the first time in 795 as ad foro (in the forum). It was rebuilt after 1070 by will of Pope Alexander II. Notable is the façade, from the 13th century, with a large series of sculptures and inlays, numerous of which remade in the 19th century. The lower part has a series of blind arcades, the central of which includes the main portal. The upper part, built using plenty of iron materials to counter wind, has four orders of small loggias. On the summit, flanked by two other angels, is the 4 m-tall statue of St. Michael the Archangel. According to a legend, an angel's finger would have a huge diamond.
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Photo credit: © Paul Sampson / Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ancient, antique, archangel, architecture, art, basilica, building, cathedral, catholic, church, city, day, exterior, facade, foro, heritage, historic, history, italian, italy, landmark, lucca, michael, michele, religion, religious, romanesque, saint, san, sculpture, square, st, stone, tourism, town, travel, tuscany, urban, view
