san michele in foro

Very impressive facade and located in the Piazza San Michele. Stunning interior. A must see when in Tuscany

A multi-colored light show featuring leaping reindeer cascading down the side of this ancient church......seems bizarre when merely described. It was utterly delightful and, somehow, not out of place. Lovely, actually. Christmas in Lucca was memorable and the festive atmosphere in Piazza San Michele was charming.

It is considered to be one of the most beautiful churches in Tuscany and I agree. Incredible how lack of money can turn into something so unique. Don't miss Andrea della Robbia's "Madonna with Child" and Filippo Lippi's painting with four Saints.

Once the place of a Roman forum, now the statue of an angel sits on top of the front facade. The details are numerous, its just like every time you pass it, you see something different. The square itself is being done up. You can find big info boards with pictures how it used to look (in the old days) and geographic findings and scans of the ground.The inside of San Michele is dark, but here too you can see some nice things. Note that in the Museum in Lucca 'Villa Guinigi' are some of the original pillars of the facade, just to protect them. Here you can see them up close.

9.19.2014 -- It drew a constant flow of tourists. We only stopped long enough to take a few photos. It was high-noon, not the best time for interesting architectural snapshots. But I wished I had known of a certain unique features of the structure. Apparently there are narrow steps right behind the front facade. I would have seek that out.

By comparison to earlier visit to Cinque Terra today, this charming Roman walled city was comparably quiet, much less hectic and appeared to be very bicycle friendly & very walkable too. The San Michele is really spectacular with gorgeous facade statuary & columns too. The interior has a subtle beauty seemingly missed by many; I loved it by its own right.BTW; be polite to the parishioners who regard it as a holy place even if some insult the sacred space! Come on; this is a place of worship-not a "photo op"!!

Went to mass on st. Michaels feast day and since St. Michael is the patron saint of the police and firemen, it was a popular mass. It is great to see these great ancient churches used by the faithful. It truly was an honor to be there.

We walked round the outside taking the usual tourist photographs, when we spotted the beauty of the building. On having a coffee behind the building we noticed that there was steps on the outside of the front to the top, would not have liked to climb them as there was no handrail and it was a sheer drop.Inside it is lovely in its own way and just a little above being plain. Not to be missed

The exterior of this church is amazing and gorgeous. You have to see it to believe it. It's like a TALL wedding cake. How did they make marble look that delicate.?

Beautiful on the outside, very impressive, and located in a beautiful piazza. To pass by from the outside you must, it's gorgeous. But there is nothing special on the inside.

I attended mass here and was made to feel very welcome. Was shocked by some tourists wandering in during the service and filming and taking photographs. I was horrified but the the people of the parish were very tolerant!

The facade of this is fascinating but the whole was spoiled while we were there by the archaeological work being done on the pavement outside. The Italian hoarding was not very attractive and blocked out much of the view of the square.

The building looks great from the outside and shines from almost the whole town with its white color. Inside decorations and tapestries were mediocre.

This church began in the 1200s and has had many additions since. A superb frescoe of madonna and child, near front entry...I almost missed it. I admired the well worn marble paving stones where they have been worn so smooth...I had just been to carrara marble quarry and imagined the work that went into building these fine old buildings.

Always stop here while in Lucca. Met the caretaker and Thanked her for her hard work and love for this parish