OVER THE YEARS – Lucca Biennale Cartasia

LUBICA LOCATIONS OVER THE YEARS

Le Sedi Nella Storia

Since it was founded in 2004, Lucca Biennale Cartasia’s exhibits and events have been hosted in many prestigious buildings and breathtaking venues of Lucca and of its province. Let’s take a closer look at some of them, while thanking the institutions for their commitment to culture

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Sixteenth-century Villa Bottini is located in the heart of Lucca’s historic center. Originally built by the Buonvisi family in 1566, Napoleon’s sister Elisa Bonaparte bought it at the beginning of the 1800s. Now owned by the City of Lucca, Villa Bottini has hosted and continues to host countless cultural events, including the first edition of Lucca Biennale Cartasia, an exhibition and a documentary-video screening.

Villa Bottini – Lucca

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The Convent was built around 1300 by the Order of the Servants of Mary. Thanks to its careful restoration and repurposing, the architectural complex has become Lucca’s public library and features study halls in the former refectory on the ground floor, the library and media center on the first floor and the offices of the Department of Culture on the second floor. The fifteenth-century cloister at the heart of the convent now hosts many events and exhibitions, among which, on several occasions, those of Lucca Biennale Cartasia.

Convent of the Servite Fathers or Agorà Library – Lucca

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The Royal Tobacco Factory was officially founded in Lucca in 1861 after the unification of Italy. The Reale Manifattura Tabacchi is a city within the city, sprawling for overt 18,000 square meters. Nowadays, the tobacco factory has relocated to the city outskirts and the Municipality of Lucca owns the entire original complex. For many years, the former tobacco factory has welcomed Lucca Biennale Cartasia workshops and artist residences during the creation and construction of the monumental artworks.

Former Tobacco Factory – Lucca

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The Cavallerizza di Lucca was built between 1821 and 1823 to provide stables and riding grounds for the military forces. In current times, the venue hosts temporary art exhibitions and many cultural initiatives. Located within the walls of Lucca right next to Porta Sant’ Anna, over the years the Ex-Cavallerizza has welcomed Biennale exhibitions, artist residences and housed the laboratory where monumental sculptures are assembled to be later displayed in the squares of Lucca’s historic center.

Ex Cavallerizza – Lucca

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Located in Piazza Napoleone, the Palazzo Ducale is currently the seat of the Province of Lucca. In the past, the Palace was owned by the Italian Condottiero and Duke of Lucca Castruccio Castracani: its original design is traditionally attributed to Giotto. Palazzo Ducale’s breathtaking halls host numerous exhibitions and events under its frescoed ceilings and within its opulently decorated salons. For several years, Palazzo Ducale was the main venue of LuBiCa’s indoor exhibitions.

The Ducal Palace – Lucca

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At its origin, the market used to be a Renaissance church and, despite its transformations over the centuries, the internal architecture and the former convent’s adjoining cloister are still perfectly visible. The Mercato del Carmine is home to several shops and hosts art exhibits, craft fairs, concerts and other cultural activities. After several years of inactivity, in 2018 the interior of the market was once again opened to the public to host one of Lucca Biennale Cartasia’s indoor exhibitions.

Carmine Market – Lucca

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After 10 years of inactivity, the former military barracks were restored and reclaimed to house the indoor exhibitions of LuBiCa 2021. The former Caserma Lorenzini welcomed visitors in a pleasant and surreal atmosphere: an "old factory" featuring stark architectural elements - such as rough iron doors and ink-black walls, side by side with technological ones, such as luminous panels with chameleon-like changing colors.

Ex Comics Museum / Ducal Stables – Lucca

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Originally built as an extension to the pre-existing church, in 1517 two cloisters were added to be used as a convent. The Republic of Lucca decided to use the building as a “university institute” in 1779 and in the 19th century, it became the Real Collegio. Currently, it is one of the largest and most beautiful monumental complexes in Lucca and features three historic cloisters, a conference and concert hall that can seat 350 people, countless sweeping halls and ample rooms that can host any kind of exhibit or event. In the past, the Real Collegio has been the venue of LuBiCa’s indoor exhibitions, the NEtworkDays Days and of Lucca Biennale Cartasia’s performances.

Real Collegio – Lucca

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Located in the heart of the historic city center, the Auditorium was built thanks to the sweeping restoration and repurposing of the former San Romano Church annexed to the Dominican Fathers Convent. Built in the 13th century with a single nave, in the seventeenth century the Church was transformed following the Baroque style. Having undergone a complete restoration, the church has now returned to its former glory with it many works of art on display. Currently used as an auditorium, the San Romano Auditorium has been the seat of LuBiCa’s inauguration ceremonies, prize-giving ceremonies and NEtworkDays.

San Romano Auditorium – Lucca

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Centuries ago, the government of Lucca wanted to offer the city’s executioner (Boia) a home where he could live with his family, as was customary at the time in other Italian cities. The chosen venue was an isolated building near a wall bastion, perhaps to highlight the executioner’s particular social position. After an in-depth restoration, the three-floor building is now home to the Via Francigena Museum. Evocative performances of Lucca Biennale Cartasia have taken place in the former Casa del Boia basement.

Via Francigena Museum / former executioner’s house – Lucca

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Palazzo Mazzarosa was built in the 1500s and named after its owner Alessandro Mazzarosa after he transformed the palace into a typical aristocratic residence (1597). Palazzo Mazzarosa is now the seat of the Order of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects and Conservators of Lucca and its beautiful frescoed rooms have hosted exhibitions of the artwork scale-models created for Lucca Biennale Cartasia.

Palazzo Mazzarosa – Lucca

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The San Martino barrack sits on top of the homonymous bulwark. The original tower was initially reinforced and only later incorporated into the new building. The Casermetta has been the venue of collateral exhibitions, workshops for children and conferences on the possible role of paper in architecture organized by Lucca Biennale Cartasia.

Casermetta San Martino – Lucca

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In the fifteenth century, San Micheletto used to be the monastery of the order of the Poor Clares and visitors can still admire the octagonal pillars of the 1400s cloister. Nowadays, the historic medieval complex is the seat of the Licia and Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti Foundation for Studies on Art. On several occasions, San Micheletto has provided the perfect setting for some of the exhibitions of the Lucca Biennale Cartasia.

San Micheletto – Lucca

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Lucca’s historic Walls are unique and unrivalled in the landscape of both European architecture and urban planning. Built in the Renaissance, today the completely pedestrian public park stretches for over 96 hectares and surrounds the historic center. The monumental wall’s recent restoration has given back to Lucca citizens one of their most beloved landmarks. The now-reopened underground passageways permanently house some artworks of the Lucca Biennale Cartasia.

Underground Walls – Lucca

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History, tradition, industrial archeology, entrepreneurship, the development and future of paper production. and the importance of the Capannori Paper District are some of the themes of the Lucca Biennale Cartasia exhibition that in several editions has been hosted by the municipality of Capannori.

Municipality of Capannori – Capannori

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The Foundation was founded by the Lazzareschi family in 2003 with the aim of promoting cultural, social and entrepreneurial growth in the surrounding territory. With its deliberately transparent walls, the contemporary architecture of the building evokes light and an openness towards the future. In collaboration with the Municipality of Porcari, the Fondazione Lazzareschi immediately became a public venue where people could meet: a site that is open to the community and to all organizations operating in the area. The Lazzereschi Foundation organizes exhibitions, events, conferences and fairs, and, over the years, has hosted Lucca Biennale Cartasia exhibits.

Lazzareschi Foundation – Porcari

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