The Church of S. Ponziano and Piazza S. Micheletto

Coming into the city through Porta Elisa and walking along the street with the same name, we find on the right the Church of S. Ponziano, which was at the beginning consecrated to S. Bartolomeo and called "in Silice", a name which probably originates from the big massive wall, built from the East to the South to protect the city from the river Serchio. In 1474, when the body of S. Ponziano was placed here inside, the church was renamed after the martyr. The works for the restoration of the façade began in the 17th century. The rebuilding of the interior was accomplished in 1720 by Francesco Maria Angelini.

Church of S.Ponziano

On the left of the main door there is the entrance of the convent, today the seat of the school "G. Carducci". The only rests of this church building are the two cloisters inside:the former, built in 1488, is situated just beyond the hall and the latter (14th century), which is smaller, is reachable, going through some inner rooms.

Coming back to Via Elisa and walking on straight westwards to the city centre, we find on the left Piazza S. Micheletto and the cloisters with the same name.
The Church of S. Michele in Cipriano (built in 720, reconstructed in 1195 and consecrated in 1460) was a monastery but in 1806 the Baciocchi government passed a decree to turn it into a complex of stables.
The building was bought in 1972 by the Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca (a bank) and it was then turned into a centre for art research and called "Istituto Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti".

All these works were possible thanks to the donations of the historian and critic Carlo Ludovico himself and of his wife Licia. In 1997 the building was completely restored.