The Casa di Nazareth, formerly the Convent of San Francesco di Paola, is a sacred complex in Pescia

Where the convent stands today, there once stood the ancient castle of Bareglia, first mentioned in the 11th century. It served as a stronghold for the Cadolingi family until 1113, when it became a possession of the Bishops of Lucca. During the siege of 1281, the castle was destroyed, only to be rebuilt by the Florentines after 1339. Within the castle grounds was a church dedicated to Saint Andrew, the ruins of which can still be seen today

Nel 1674, sulle vestigia del castello, fu eretto il convento dei Minimi di San Francesco di Paola. Nel luogo dell’antica chiesa castellana, i Minimi eressero un nuovo edificio sacro intitolato a Santa Maria degli Orfani. Dal 1702  al 1708 fu promosso un completo rinnovo della struttura, su progetto dell’architetto pesciatino Giovanni Antonio Tani. A seguito delle soppressioni degli ordini religiosi operate dal granduca Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena, il convento fu adibito a sede del seminario vescovile, fino al 1821.

The church sits in a dominant and highly picturesque position, preceded by a long flight of steps and a portico with lunettes frescoed with scenes from the life of Saint Francis of Paola. Inside, visitors can admire 18th-century stucco work and contemporary canvases, such as the Madonna and Saints by Benedetto Orsi and the Death of Saint Andrew Avellino by Innocenzo Ansaldi.

Divenuto convento dei Padri Somaschi, dal 1981 ospita la comunità dell’Opera famiglia di Nazareth.