- San Frediano - Luminara di Santa Croce
According to tradition it was the same S. Frediano, bishop of Lucca of Irish origin, who founded the church, originally dedicated to St. Vincent. It is mentioned for the first time in a document of the year 685 as a basilica Longobardorum.
The late thirteenth century mosaic on the facade is particularly fascinating, very rare for its time (in Tuscany the only other facade decorated with a mosaic is San Miniato at Monte di Firenze). It represents Christ the Redeemer who ascends to heaven. The figure of the Virgin has been cut off, from between the Apostles, by a modern window. The style of the work is typically byzantine and it is referred to the School of Berlinghieri.
Just inside the church is the beautiful baptismal font of the twelfth century. The beautiful reliefs depicting the story of Moses, the Apostles and the Months, are ascribed to artists from Tuscany and Lombardy.
Every year, the 13th of September, the very suggestive procession Luminara di Santa Croce, sets off from the Basilica San Frediano and crosses the streets of Lucca (see photo).