Restoration of the Oratorio degli Angeli Custodi, a hidden Baroque treasure.

Baroque Style and Excellent Acoustics

The Oratory of the Guardian Angels in Lucca, with its modest exterior facade hardly distinguishable from the street, dates back to 1638 when it was built by the homonymous Congregation. Initially lacking in ornaments, from 1658 the Oratory was enriched with paintings and frescoes, becoming an example of baroque decoration, with a cohesive ensemble of frescoes, stuccoes, and canvases that embrace the entire interior of the Church, created between the 17th and early 18th centuries.
Over time, the Oratory has assumed a central role in the cultural and musical life of Lucca, thanks to its excellent acoustics, becoming a favorite place for the composition, rehearsal, and recording of music, as well as for the staging of performances.

Restoration and completion for a new splendor

In recent decades, due to rainwater infiltrations coming from the roof of the adjacent Artisans' Workshop, the frescoes on the south wall were severely deteriorating. Additionally, the sacristy had been transformed into a makeshift dressing room for the artists invited to perform, and there were no dedicated service spaces for welcoming the public.
The lighting system was poor and inconsistent. The uncovered inner courtyard and the two stone staircases leading to the choir lofts were in an advanced state of degradation and neglect.
The conservative restoration project by MICROSCAPE included the recovery of the decorative apparatus, wooden decorations, and the 18th-century organ, as well as the modernization of lighting with LED technology and the thermal improvement of the roof.
 

The exteriors have been renovated with new plaster and paint, while the inner courtyard has been transformed with a steel and opal glass covering. The twin gray sandstone ramps have undergone meticulous restoration to preserve their original appearance. These lead to a new floor articulated in three steps that facilitate passage between the main entrance and the former sacristy. Inside the now enclosed courtyard, there is a wooden revolving reception desk designed for efficient and minimal ticketing. The courtyard's lighting is provided by integrated LED strips in the slots of the horizontal glass ceiling beams. A ramp provides access to facilities dedicated to the public and spaces reserved for artists. Flexible and foldable walls delineate the entrances to dressing rooms and bathrooms, as well as forming corridor seating along the path. Lighting is ensured by recessed lights in a black-painted ceiling, in harmony with the interior of the dressing rooms, where linear lights alternate with mirrors. Additional space is dedicated to a meeting room, with a dark ceiling and strategically positioned lights to create an intimate and welcoming environment where artists and technical staff can gather. Access to the Oratory hall is through a door that connects directly to the dressing rooms, integrating the functional spaces.

Discovery of the original sacred furnishings.

During the restoration, the original sacred furnishings were found and relocated to the spaces adjacent to the main hall of the Oratory, enriching the visitor experience with the history and art of the place, a cultural heritage of the entire community. Among these, the fresco of the Guardian Angel with a child stands out, previously located above the main entrance and now exhibited in the covered courtyard.
A digital reproduction of this work now decorates the main facade, emphasizing the connection between past and present and the custodial role of angels in the lives of the faithful.

This restoration not only preserved and enhanced the historical and artistic heritage of the Oratory but also renewed its functionality and accessibility, reaffirming its central role in the community of Lucca.