THE WANDERER'S GUIDE TO LUCCA -- PART 6

THE BEST "STORY BEHIND THE BEAUTY 

AND HISTORY" GUIDEBOOK WE'VE SEEN

Lindquist dedicates about 30 pages to the stories of 40 prominent Lucca families.

"The patricians of Lucca valued ancient roots even more than wealth; the most prized status was to be declared an original citizen," the author writes.

The face of Lucca, powerful silk-trading city-state with trade partners all over Europe and suppliers in Asia, changed with a 1308 law that banned most of the old guard from serving in government.

Although the rules changes down the road and wealthy families ran the republic, the 1308 decree sent prominent families packing -- many settling in Venice.

"It was the end of Lucca's monopoly on the silk trade," the author observes.

Lindquist profiles the Fatinelli family as being most famous for having been the employers of Santa Zita in the 1200s.

Zita became a servant for the Fatinellis at age 12 and served them until she died at age 60. 

The patron saint of maids and domestic servants, her biographers have said the diminutive servant was unjustly despised, overburdened, reviled, and often beaten by her employers and fellow servants for her hard work and obvious goodness.

She eventually was put in charge of all affairs at the house and is portrayed holding keys (that is why she is invoked when someone loses keys.)

Her body was exhumed in 1580, discovered to be incorrupt but since become mummified. 

St. Zita's body is on display for public veneration in the Basilica di San Frediano in Lucca.

As for the Fatinellis, they tried to make amends to their miracle-performing maid by paying for her tomb and building a chapel around it.

Order the book at www.lindquistguides.com

The Wanderer's Guide to Lucca review 

continues tomorrow -- September 3