It is not necessary to be particularly religious and practising: the Feast of San Lucchese in Poggibonsi has its origins from an ecclesiastical ambit, but today above all it is an event which is attended by a large crowds and also very much enjoyed by those from neighbouring towns. The appointment, which takes place every year on the 28th April, is, in fact, the day that the patron saint, San Lucchese, who gave the name to the Franciscan convent, is celebrated.
Initially, a high ranking military officer, Lucchese (born around the end of the XII century) later became a rich merchant with the sad fame of being a miser. But his life changed completely on meeting St. Francis of Assisi. Lucchesi and his wife were converted by the Saint and decided to live in his manner, becoming one of the very early Franciscan tertiary (name which derives from the Rule of the Franciscan Third Order) and Lucchese became a saint. Today his life is celebrated with a huge festival: the road leading to the hill on which the convent stands is filled with gastronomic stalls.
The body of the Saint is carried in procession and festivities conclude around 10 ‘o’ clock at night with a display of fireworks. But the festival can also be an occasion to visit the convent which lies about two kilometres from Poggibonsi. Of Gothic style, the structure presents a single nave illuminated by high windows and which ends in three chapels with transepts. Inside is a cycle of frescoes by Cennino Cennini (“The birth of Maria”, the birth of St. Stephen and substitution with a demon baby”), two frescos by Bartolo di Fredi (“The Martydom of St. Andrew” and “St. Nicholas of Bari”), and a plaque by Giovanni della Robbia made in 1517, of the “Madonna with Child and Saints”.(Portions of this article first appeared in "Toscana & Chianti News")
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