- Art & Culture
- Religious Tourism
Convent of Fra' Cristoforo
Church of Saints Materno and Lucia, in Lecco’s district of Pescarenico
We reach Pescarenico, a district of Lecco clearly mentioned by Manzoni as the place where Renzo, Lucia and Agnese meet Fra' Cristoforo to plan their escape.
Located on the left bank of the Adda River and originally a fishing village, Pescarenico is now a very characteristic neighbourhood that has preserved its narrow streets and old houses interspersed with rustic courtyards. And here in Piazza Fra' Cristoforo we encounter the Church of Saints Materno and Lucia as well as the remains of the courtyard of the old convent where Manzoni's three fugitives stayed as described in the novel.
With a single rectangular nave, the church houses a valuable wooden high altar, with the special feature of nine glass boxes containing polychrome wax compositions that can be traced back to the Neapolitan culture of the late 17th century, depicting scenes from the lives of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. Undeniably valuable is the magnificent altarpiece painted by Giovan Battista Crespi found inside.
As for the Manzonian aura, from this small neighbourhood it would be possible to see the landscape that inspired the famous “Farewell to the Mountains” uttered by a sad Lucia, fearful of never being able to see the places of her childhood again
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