Cathedral Museum in Lucca

The Cathedral Museum in Lucca is located near the Cathedral of San Martino. Its rooms are home to treasures like sculptures, vestments and illuminated manuscripts, as well as works coming from the cathedral complex and liturgical furnishings.

Amongst the works on display are the precious ornaments for the Holy Face of Lucca, jewels that still today are used to adorn Christ during processions. These include the gold crown with coloured gems and a necklace richly decorated with diamonds.

An entire room is dedicated to historic illuminated manuscripts, while the rest of the museum conserves priceless pieces like a copper jewellery box that depicts the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket and a pastoral staff showing St. Martin giving his cloak to a poor man.

Attesting to the excellent quality of Lucca’s textile production, there are vestments and chasubles in silk with splendid embroideries. The collection also contains silverware made by Francesco Martini and the Croce dei Pisani, a lavish piece of gold work from the 1400s.