Golden halo around the Virgin Mary’s head in close detail view of Lombardic late medieval Madonna and Child fresco in the former Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata (Church of Saints John and Reparata) in Piazza San Giovanni, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. The basilica, now a museum, was rebuilt in the 12th century on the site of ancient Roman buildings and an early Christian church and baptistery that served as the city’s original cathedral.


Lucca, Tuscany, Italy: a golden halo surrounds the head of the Virgin Mary in this close detail view of a Lombardic late medieval Madonna and Child fresco in the former Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata (Church of Saints John and Reparata) in Piazza San Giovanni. The church was rebuilt in the 12th century as a Romanesque basilica, on the site of a 1st century AD Roman house and baths complex and a 5th century early Christian church and baptistery that served as the city’s cathedral until the 8th century. The 12th century church retained the early Christian layout of its predecessor, with three naves separated by re-used Roman columns. It is now a museum, allowing visitors to view the layered excavated archaeological remains of the earlier structures. The white marble 1600s late Renaissance facade fronting Piazza San Giovanni retains the central portal from the 12th century church, featuring superb Romanesque stone sculpture.


Size: 3872px × 2592px
Location: Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata, Piazza San Giovanni, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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