Museum

The origin of this house dates back around the late XII century to Guido Bernardini, Lord of Montemagno and ancestor of the Family. Lucca historical archives testify the valuable contribution made by this important figure to the stability and governability of the city of Lucca, which was at that time contended between Luccan Consuls and foreign authorities.
Since then the Bernardini Family played an instrumental role to the administration and guide of the Luccan politics. On this purpose it is worth mentioning that the Bernardinis were 72 times Gonfaloniers of the Republic (Magistrate of the medieval communes) from 1388 with Giovanni till 1798 with Cosimo.
Among the most relevant figures of the Bernardini House is undoubtedly Inghiramo di Montemagno who was Podestà of Lucca during the years 1200, 1203 and 1204, and Captain of the Luccan Army in 1222 on the occasion of the wars against Pisa, Pistoia and the powerful hamlet of Porcari. At a later date Martino Bernardini was the promoter of a law, named Legge Martiniana”, which from 1556 prohibited who wasn’t native from Lucca to accede to a State post. This disposition granted the citizens they would have not be subject to the hegemony of foreign governors and moreover ensured peace and abundance to Lucca.
Towards the end of the XVIII century, together with the invasion of Napoleon, the members of the Bernardini Family were able to support the new political order and to give their contribution to political matters: Federico Bernardini (1742-1818) was indeed camp assistant of Prince Felice Baciocchi, Duke of Lucca, and his wife Eleonora de Nobili was dame de compagnie of Duchess Elisa Bonaparte, Napoleone’s sister.
Family Bernardini’s coat of arms is made up of a white decussated cross on a red background and of a straight moon crescent in the centre, representing the Bernardini Family’s participation in a crusade.