The Basilica of San Paolino opens its doors to visitors every weekend from June to September Starting from Friday 13 June, the Basilica of Saints Paolino and Donato will be open to the public every weekend, with free visits, as part of the project “Ri-conoscere le Mura”, promoted by the Municipality of Lucca with the coordination of the councilors Remo Santini and Mia Pisano and the support of the Scientific Committee for the enhancement of the Walls.

After the underground of the Baluardo Santa Croce and the Castello di Porta San Donato, the basilica also becomes part of the path of rediscovery of the historical and artistic heritage connected to the monumental ring of the city. A significant addition, which unites art, faith and collective memory: the figure of San Paolino, patron saint of Lucca, is depicted with the city surrounded by walls in his hands, a symbol that recurs both inside the church and on the nearby Porta San Donato.

The basilica, designed by Baccio da Montelupo in the early decades of the sixteenth century, houses masterpieces such as the “Miracle of San Paolino” by Giovanni Domenico Lombardi and the “Coronation of the Virgin” by Baldassarre di Biagio, where a suggestive view of the fortified medieval city stands out.

The experimental opening will be guaranteed every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, until the end of September, thanks to the collaboration between the Municipality, the Scientific Committee and the Parish of the Historic Center. Inside, a bilingual information panel will be available, consistent with the visual communication of the permanent exhibition of the Baluardo Santa Croce, to accompany visitors in the discovery of the church and its connection with the city walls. MORE INFO