Ducal Palace, Lucca
Encyclopedia
The Ducal Palace is a palace in Lucca
, Tuscany
, central Italy
.
, where also was his palace, perhaps designed by Giotto. The large complex, which occupied some one fifth of the city, was destroyed by the populace in 1370. The fortress was restored and used as residence by Paolo Guinigi
in 1401; after his fall in 1429 this was again partially dismantled and later became the Palazzo Pubblico ("Public Palace").
After a period as the residence of Duchess Elisa Baciocchi, it was the seat of the Lucchese state government until the Unification of Italy in 1861, when it was acquired by the province of Lucca
.
. In the early 19th century it was further enriched by the ducal architect Lorenzo Nottolini.
The palace includes a central court, which is unfinished. It has a double portico with pillars and, in the center, a statue of the Lucchese lawyer Francesco Carrara, work by Augusto Passaglia. On the left is another unfinished court, known as Cortile degli Svizzeri, referring to the corps of Swiss Guard in service of the Republic of Lucca
, also designed by Ammannati and characterized by the use of rustication
.
The interior hall, accessed through a monumental stair by Nottolini, housed the National Gallery of Lucca, moved to Villa Guinigi in 1977. The staircase ends with a gallery of statues. The Hall of the General Council of the Republic has a Flemish painting and a fresco of the Lucchese Freedom. Above the Loggia delle Guardie is the Ammannati Loggia, decorated with grotesque
s and stuccose. The Staffieri Hall has frescoes by Luigi Ademollo.
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
History
The palace is located on the site of the Fortezza Augustan, the residence of condottiero Castruccio CastracaniCastruccio Castracani
Castruccio Castracani degli Antelminelli was an Italian condottiero and duke of Lucca.-Biography:Castruccio was born in Lucca, a member of the noble family of Antelminelli, of the Ghibelline party. In 1300 he was exiled with his parents and others of their faction by the Guelphs "Black" party,...
, where also was his palace, perhaps designed by Giotto. The large complex, which occupied some one fifth of the city, was destroyed by the populace in 1370. The fortress was restored and used as residence by Paolo Guinigi
Paolo Guinigi
Paolo Guinigi was a lord of Lucca from 1400 until 1430.-Biography:Paolo was born in Lucca in 1372. He was the son of Francesco Guinigi, member of one of the most outstanding families of Lucca. He was sent to London in 1389 and then to the Flanders , to care for the family's affairs...
in 1401; after his fall in 1429 this was again partially dismantled and later became the Palazzo Pubblico ("Public Palace").
After a period as the residence of Duchess Elisa Baciocchi, it was the seat of the Lucchese state government until the Unification of Italy in 1861, when it was acquired by the province of Lucca
Province of Lucca
The Province of Lucca is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lucca.It has an area of 1,773 km², and a total population of 372,244...
.
Description
The palace is of large size and owes its current appearance to Bartolomeo Ammannati's restoration in 1578 (from the left side to the central portal). The right wing was added only in 1728 by Francesco Pini, a pupil of Filippo JuvarraFilippo Juvarra
Filippo Juvarra was an Italian architect and stage set designer.-Biography:Filippo Juvarra was an Italian Baroque architect working in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was born in Messina, Sicily, to a family of goldsmiths and engravers...
. In the early 19th century it was further enriched by the ducal architect Lorenzo Nottolini.
The palace includes a central court, which is unfinished. It has a double portico with pillars and, in the center, a statue of the Lucchese lawyer Francesco Carrara, work by Augusto Passaglia. On the left is another unfinished court, known as Cortile degli Svizzeri, referring to the corps of Swiss Guard in service of the Republic of Lucca
Republic of Lucca
The Republic of Lucca was an ancient State of Tuscany which lasted from 1160 to 1805.After the death of Matilda of Tuscany, the city of Lucca began to constitute itself an independent commune, with a charter in 1160. For almost 500 years, Lucca remained an independent republic...
, also designed by Ammannati and characterized by the use of rustication
Rustication (architecture)
thumb|upright|Two different styles of rustication in the [[Palazzo Medici-Riccardi]] in [[Florence]].In classical architecture rustication is an architectural feature that contrasts in texture with the smoothly finished, squared block masonry surfaces called ashlar...
.
The interior hall, accessed through a monumental stair by Nottolini, housed the National Gallery of Lucca, moved to Villa Guinigi in 1977. The staircase ends with a gallery of statues. The Hall of the General Council of the Republic has a Flemish painting and a fresco of the Lucchese Freedom. Above the Loggia delle Guardie is the Ammannati Loggia, decorated with grotesque
Grotesque
The word grotesque comes from the same Latin root as "Grotto", meaning a small cave or hollow. The original meaning was restricted to an extravagant style of Ancient Roman decorative art rediscovered and then copied in Rome at the end of the 15th century...
s and stuccose. The Staffieri Hall has frescoes by Luigi Ademollo.