Casa famiglia Santa Lucia

Through the passage of time, Casa famiglia Santa Lucia in Borgo Pinti has served many purposes. It has been a refuge for the weary traveler, a sanctuary for young girls seeking education and a haven for the less fortunate. You see, what is now Casa famiglia Santa Lucia began as a humble collection of hospices and lazarets. These were charitable institutions that provided shelter and care for the sick and destitute during the Middle Ages. Interestingly, they were overseen by the nearby hospital of Santa Maria Nuova, a testament to the city’s deep-rooted spirit of compassion. It was here that Lisabetta, a widow of a leather worker named Bartolomeo Salvini, took it upon herself to establish the convent of the nuns of San Giuseppe. However, this was not to be their final destination, as the convent later found a new home in the picturesque Prato di Ognissanti. In the year 1695, the Educandato di San Carlo Borromeo was established on the very grounds where we stand today. Its purpose? To equip young girls with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of domestic life. This educational endeavor received generous support from Carlo Gianni, a squire serving under the Grand Duke Cosimo III. The girls who benefited from his patronage became affectionately known as “Giannizzere”, a testament to his generosity. But fate, it seemed, had other plans for Casa famiglia Santa Lucia. In 1750, the Educandato was absorbed into the Conservatorio di San Salvatore dei Mendicanti, marking another turning point in its multifaceted history. It was then that it transformed once more, becoming the Ospizio di Sant’Antonio da Padova, thanks to the tireless efforts of Father Bernardino da Gaiole. After a period of lying dormant, the building was given a new lease on life in 1929 when it became home to the Istituto delle Suore Stimmatine. Today, Casa famiglia Santa Lucia continues to be a beacon of hope, now under the care of the Istituto delle Povere Figlie delle Sacre Stimmate as the Istituto Femminile San Silvestro. It serves as a family home, offering shelter and support to those in need.