Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

elated to the growth and development of Italy and Europe
through the four centuries.
The history of the local people, their society, economy,
culture and other aspects such as demographic patterns
can all be traced through the documents. Lucca was a
rich community and imperial and papal privileges and
provisions, agrarian and commercial contracts, sales,
loans and donations are all recorded.
� Lucca today
� Detail of a codex from the archives
Volto Santo de Lucca �
The community’s religious and spiritual expression is
particularly notable in the edification of churches and
the development of the cult of the Holy Face, the town’s
patron. The Holy Face, or Volto Santo, is a wooden crucifix
believed to have been sculpted by Nicodemus, a friend
and contemporary of Christ, and brought to Lucca in
AD 742. Bound up with religious expression is the city’s
artistic outflowing, in the wealth of religious buildings, the
decoration of its churches and in the production of its silk
factory, used to make religious vestments.
The documents reveal further changes, both through the
centuries and in different geographical areas, in practices
in handwriting, parchment and miniature preparation and
the use of colours and gold in manuscripts.
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