Passing by Ponte a Serraglio, Bagni di Lucca’s historic gaming and bathing focus (although it’s some time  since it possessed a  gaming license and the natural hot water baths have regrettably been closed for over two years now) my wife pointed out to me a hitherto unnoticed little chapel hidden in a thick bamboo grove. It’s so pleasing how so often when one has been living and thinking of knowing the same area for some time new discoveries continue to be regularly made.

We stopped and made our way through the dense grove to reach the chapel.

Although now in a very derelict state with a gaping hole in its roof, rotting pews, a decayed altar and overgrown walls the chapel still preserves something of the noble air it once possessed.

The outer corbels ornamented with classical volutes are particularly elegant as is the elaborate wrought-iron entrance door and the charming lantern holder.

It’s easy to think one has seen everything on regularly traversed routes. This time, however, Sandra’s quick observational powers brought to our attention a building I had never noted before and seems not to be shown to any local maps.

Who built this chapel? To which saint was it dedicated? Was it in memory of a dear departed or to fulfil some vow I wonder? As with too many buildings in our area it’s a real pity it hasn’t been restored and perhaps re-used for another purpose like a shelter for walkers on one of the several local footpaths of our area like the ‘Via del Grano’ described in my previous post.