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Santa Croce e San Bonaventura dei Lucchesi Holy Cross and St Bonaventure of the Lucchese

3 Via dei Lucchesi 00187 Roma Tel. 06 67 92 017 Fax 06 67 91 840 Normally open every day 12.00-13.00; guided tours can be arranged at other times.

Church dedicated to the Holy Cross and St Bonaventure. National (regional) church of the people of Lucca in Tuscany. History

The first church here, San Niccolò de Portiis, was built in the 9th century. It was demolished, but it's possible to see traces of the foundations.

In the second half of the 16th century, the Capuchins built a monastery here, where St Felix of Cantalice spent a great part of his life.

The church was reconstructed in 1575 by Pope Gregory XIII, and dedicated to St Bonaventure. It was given to the Lucchese community in Rome as their national church by Pope Urban VIII in 1631, and dedicated to the Holy Cross as well as to St Bonaventure. A hospice for poor and infirm Lucchese was opened adjacent to the church. In the same year, a congregation propagating the devotion to the Holy Will was founded here. The old Capuchin church was expanded, and only a small part now remains of it.

It was completely restructured 1682-1683 by Mattia de Rossi, and restored 1859-1863 by Virigilio Vespignani.

At the end of the 19th century, the church was granted to the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, who still own it. Their generalate is adjacent to the church. Exterior

The façade is preceded by a wide staircase. Above the door is a framed window. The façade is crowned by a triangular tympanon with the image of St Bonaventure. Interior

The church has a single nave, with three chapels on each side. It is richly decorated with stucco.

The cassette ceiling is from 1637-1677. It was made by the Lucchese artists Giovanni Coli and Filippo Gherardi, and is decorated with scenes from the life of Christ.

The altarpiece at the high altar depicts Emperor Heraclius and the Holy Cross at Jerusalem. At the sides are angels with the veil of Veronica, angels with symbols of the Holy Will and monks and angels with symbols of the Passion. The high altar, in Sicilian jasper is decorated with a motif symbolizing the Holy Will of Lucca.

On the side walls of the apse are paintings with motifs related to the devotion to the Holy Will, by Francesco Grandi.

The first chapel on the right is dedicated to St Zita. It is has rich marble decorations, and an oil painting by Lazarro Baldi of the saint at the altar.

The second chapel on the right is dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity. It has an altarpiece of Mary Immaculate by Biagio Puccini. On the right side is a painting of St Fredian by Francesco del Tintore, and on the left a painting of Lorenzo Giustiniani by Domenico Maria Muratori. At the foot of the altar is the tomb of Blessed Maria of Jesus, founder of the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, who was beatified on 12 October 1997.

In the first chapel on the left, which is dedicated to the Most Holy Crucifix, is a wooden crucifix and paintings by Giovanni Coli and Filippo Gherardi.

The second is sometimes called the Pantheon of the Lucchese people. The 17th century altarpiece by Domenichino depicts The Coronation of the Virgin. Several notable persons from Lucca are interred here; the tombs of Alessandro Buttaioni and Stefano Tofanelli are on the right side, and those of Lorenzo Prospero Bottini and Filippo Buonamici are on the left side.

The third chapel on the left is dedicated to St Bonaventure. The altarpiece reflects the original dedication of this chapel, to Mary Assumpta. It depicts Mary Assumpta with Sts Francis of Assisi and Jerome Genuflecting. On the side walls are depictions of various saints. Special notes

Feasts that are celebrated with special solemnity are those of the Holy Cross on 14 September, St Bonaventure on 15 July and Blessed Mary of Jesus on 11 October.