Church of Saint Lucia

The ancient village 'in Vegghiatoia' due to its strategic position, in the Middle Ages was used for the surveillance and security of one of the accesses to Camaiore, in fact there was an ancient castle, now destroyed, near which the town was born, towards the thirties of the thirteenth century, with the settlement of a small community that lived further down, who brought the simulacrum of Santa Lucia, which gave the name to the town and for which they built a small church, of which today the apse remains partially incorporated into the bell tower. The small village belonged to the Vicariate of Pietrasanta but later ended up under the jurisdiction of Camaiore, as did the church, which in the estimates of 1260 belonged to the Pieve di S. Felicita. In the fifteenth century it was included among the churches that were under the jurisdiction of S. Michele di Camaiore. The building took on its current appearance after the important works done in 1825.
The facade, entirely plastered, is composed of a triangular pediment supported by two lateral pilasters with the entrance portal in the center framed by mortar moldings. The building, with the major axis oriented to the south-east, is divided into a single hall divided into three bays by pillars leaning against the walls that are better defined by an architectural stucco partition. Behind the altar, on the back wall, a recently created trompe l'oeil marble inlay simulates a coffered vault to create an effect of depth in the narrow liturgical space.


Facade
The facade, entirely plastered, is concluded at the top by a triangular pediment supported by two pilasters placed, with Doric style capitals on the sides. In the center opens the entrance portal framed by mortar moldings.

Plant
The building has a rectangular plan shape, with the major axis oriented from south-east to north-west and the entrance in the latter position. It is divided inside into a single hall divided into three bays and a main chapel.

Presbytery
The presbytery is housed in the last bay and in the main chapel, 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, arches, chains and wooden frameworks.

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

Floors and paving
The building is paved with white and grey marble arranged in a checkerboard pattern.

Decorative elements
The interior of the building is articulated by an architectural stucco partition where the moldings better define the pillars and create a frame along the perimeter. The decorative apparatus continues painted on the barrel vault with nails.

Choir
Located on the counter-facade, with a rectilinear layout, it is supported by two columns and is entirely made of brickwork.

Bell tower
Entirely built in the 1880s, it is attached to the rear part of the building and incorporates part of the ancient apse. The base is a sloping structure finished with smooth ashlar. The central shaft of the tower is made of stone closed by corners in squared stone blocks and finally the floor of the bell tower is articulated by an architectural apparatus in stone with Doric-style pilasters, which close the archivolt French windows framed with stone ashlars.