The village of Monteggiori, located on a rocky spur, was the site of a feudal castle, mentioned for the first time in 1224 in a deed of sale of the village by the nobles of Montemagno and Bozzano to the Municipality of Lucca. The town still retains its urban appearance typical of a fortified medieval village, with narrow and winding paths and the presence of some remains of the city walls, as well as the castle's access gate. At the top of the settlement there is a large space in which stands the church dedicated to Santo Stefano, which was already mentioned at the beginning of the thirteenth century and which, through various transformations, the most important of which dates back to the sixteenth century and the last to the nineteenth, has assumed its current appearance.
The salient façade is entirely plastered. Being the result of successive extensions, the latter, in the part corresponding to the left nave, bends following the course of the road, therefore the building has only two entrances: the first, in the center, framed in marble and surmounted by a lunette with the mosaic effigy of the Madonna with Baby Jesus, leads to the main nave, while the other, very simple, leads to the smaller right nave. Above and in line with the main entrance there is an oculus, now filled in, framed by mortar moldings with the mosaic effigy of the titular saint, recently made like that of the lunette.
The building has a basilica plan, with the main axis oriented to the east, and is divided into three naves composed of four bays; the main nave ends in an apse.
The interior of the building is divided into an architectural section in stucco and painted in an eclectic style, with classical moldings and mirrors painted in imitation marble. A detail to note is that of the walls of the main nave which have been painted in imitation of a red damask wallpaper. The pictorial decoration continues on the vaults: barrel vaults with nails in the main nave and cross vaults in the smaller ones.
Facade
The simple, entirely plastered, salient façade is not entirely coplanar, in fact, having to follow the course of the urban block in which the place of worship is located, in the part corresponding to the left nave it bends following the course of the street. Furthermore, there are only two entrances to the church: the main one in the center, framed in marble, topped by a cymatium and surmounted by a lunette with the mosaic effigy of the Madonna with Baby Jesus and the second, which leads into the right nave, also framed in marble. The conformation of the site and the course of the churchyard prevent the opening of the third entrance in correspondence with the other side nave. Above, in line with the main entrance, there is an oculus framed by mortar moldings that houses the mosaic effigy of the titular saint. In line with the secondary entrance there is a large single-lancet window with plaster frames.
Plant
The basilica-plan building, with the major axis oriented from east to west and the entrance in the latter position, is divided internally into three naves composed of four bays. The main nave ends with an apse.
Presbytery
The presbytery is housed in the last span of all three naves.
Structural system
The structural parts of the building consist of: continuous masonry, transverse arches, arches, chains and wooden frameworks.
Coverings
The roof covering is made of terracotta tiles and bricks.
Floors and paving
The building is paved in marble.
Decorative elements
The interior of the building is divided into an architectural section in stucco and painting in an eclectic style, where in addition to the use of classical moldings that define the pillars and frames, there is extensive use of mirrors painted in imitation marble. Note how the spandrels between the arches of the central nave and the apse wall are painted in imitation of a red damask wallpaper. The decorative apparatus continues painted on the barrel vault with nails of the main nave and on the cross vaults of the side naves.
Choir
Located on the counter-facade with a concave-convex shape, it is supported by two columns and two pillars in Doric style and is entirely made of brickwork.
Bell tower
Entirely built in the 1820s, it is attached to the left nave and aligned with the façade plan. The stone base is finished with smooth ashlar, the central shaft of the tower is finished with plaster and is framed by squared stone ashlars. Finally, the plan of the bell tower is articulated by an architectural apparatus in stone with Doric-style pilasters that enclose the archivolt French windows equipped with a parapet with balustrades. The tower has an attic and a spire roof.
where
43.946998°, 10.266466°
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when
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