Chiesa della Madonna dei Lumi (Madonna of the Lights Church), San Gimignano

The Madonna of the Lights Church was constructed in 1601, based on a design by the local architect Francesco Panzini. This small Baroque church once dominated the entrance to the town via an elevated structure that featured a grand staircase leading to its entrance balcony above the street.

Inside, the church is elegantly adorned with stuccoes and monochromatic wall paintings added in 1794 by the artist Pietro Scaliano-offering a refined and cohesive aesthetic typical of late Baroque decoration. However, as the centuries passed and transportation needs evolved, the central nave of the church was partially demolished in 1922 to accommodate the widening of the adjacent street.

Despite this loss, the bell tower still stands and the surviving aisle under it is open to the public. This remnant lends its name to a charming adjacent space known today as Madonna Square, accessible via a staircase that remains an echo of the original structure.