Basilica of San Frediano

About this place

The Basilica of San Frediano is a Romanesque church in Lucca, Italy, situated on the Piazza San Frediano. Fridianus was an Irish bishop of Lucca in the first half of the 6th century. He had a church built on this spot, dedicated to Saint Vincent, a martyr from Zaragoza, Spain. When Fridianus was buried in this church, the church was renamed Ss. Soon afterwards, a community of Augustinian canons was growing around this church. In the Longobard era, the church and the canon house were enlarged. In 1104, this order was recognized by Pope Paschal II. The prior of Saint Frediano was later accorded a rank equal in dignity to that of a bishop. As you explore, compare the building itself with its decoration and later additions. Differences in materials, forms and imagery can reveal successive periods of patronage, making the visit a way to understand how religious places evolved over time.