Oratory of St. James the Apostle

The circular structure of the village of Pedona is due to the ancient 11th century castle of the Nobili Flammi di Pedona; the town arose in fact on the area of the fortress, where a circular tower protected by imposing walls stood out. In 1169 the castle was destroyed by the Lucchesi during the war against the Cattani of Versilia while in 1324 Castruccio Castracani, lord of Lucca, built a second watchtower, which remained in use until the 17th century. In the centre of the town stands the church of San Iacopo, which seems to date back to the 13th century and which was radically transformed into its current form in the mid-1920s.
The facade, entirely plastered, is articulated by a sort of classical layout where two pairs of pilasters are set on a very high base, with a false rusticated curtain, and support an entablature surmounted by a triangular pediment. At the center of the base is the entrance portal and, in line with this, in the central intercolumniation of the upper register, a large orbicular window. The building, with a rectangular plan with the major axis oriented to the east, has a single-hall interior divided into seven bays and is concluded by a scarsella. The hall is articulated by an architectural apparatus in stucco with pilasters in Ionic style and is covered by a barrel vault with nails. It is worth noting how the decorative apparatus has been overloaded with monochrome pictorial decorations with vegetal elements, especially in the frieze and in the panels of the pilasters.

Facade
The gabled façade, entirely plastered, is articulated by a classical plaster layout where two pairs of pilasters, placed on the sides, in Ionic style with grooves, set on a lower level, finished with a false rusticated curtain, support an entablature on which a triangular pediment is set. At the center of the rusticated curtain is the entrance portal, framed by mortar moldings, which is concluded at the top by a cymatium on brackets. In the central intercolumniation of the upper register is a large orbicular window.

Plant
The building has a rectangular plan shape, with the major axis oriented from east to west and the entrance in the latter position. The single-hall interior is divided into seven bays, and ends with a small apse.

Presbytery
The presbytery is housed in the last bay and is raised by one step from the floor of the hall.

Structural system
The structural parts of the building consist of continuous masonry, transverse arches, beams, vaults and wooden floors.

Coverings
The roof covering is made of terracotta tiles and bricks.

Floors and paving
The building is paved in white and grey marble.

Decorative elements
The interior of the building is marked and articulated by a plastic stucco architectural apparatus, which sees Ionic-style pilasters dividing the space into seven bays. In correspondence with the pilasters, there are transverse arches that stiffen the barrel vault, with nails, in whose lunettes open the orbicular windows that illuminate the interior. It is worth noting how the decorative apparatus is overloaded with monochrome pictorial decorations with vegetal elements, especially in the frieze and in the mirrors of the pilasters.