Things to Do in Lucca

Italy has always been one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and you can have a romantic holiday there. The region of Tuscany is one of these places, where beautiful destinations like Florence, Siena, and Pisa are famous in Europe. There is also the city of Lucca, which is a neighbour to all these cities; an old and historical city located on the western coast of Italy, in the valley of the Serchio River with the Apuan Alps to the north and the west.

The city contains many historical religious structures, so it was called the city of a hundred churches. Lucca has been known for its unique architectural style through the centuries, which played an important role in Italy’s architectural history.  

History of Lucca

Lucca has a long history with invaders like the Romans, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Franks, Verona’s Scaligeri, and Napoleon. The Etruscans founded the city and became a Roman colony in 180 BC. It was located at the crossroads of Parma, Florence, Rome, Pisa, and Luni and was a prosperous city. After 476 AD, Lucca became the residence of one of the three Lombard Dukes in Tuscany after the Dukes came from the Frankish in 774.

In the 9th and 10th centuries, Lucca became the central city in Tuscany and led the major road between Lombardy and Rome, the Via Francigena. Despite many struggles with its neighbours and ambitious noble houses, Lucca remained independent until it fell to the French in 1799. When the French ruled Lucca, it was held to Élisa Baciocchi, a sister of Napoleon, from 1805 until 1814.

After the French, the Congress of Vienna came in 1815, which assigned it to the Spanish infanta María Luisa, widow of the former king Louis of Etruria. Then came her son Charles Louis, who ruled the city from 1824 until he gave it to Tuscany in 1847. Lucca was finally united to the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.

Lucca is well known as the city of a hundred churches, such as Lucca Cathedral and San Michele in Foro. The city walls show how the city was defended through the centuries. Next to the churches and the city walls, you will find museums, beautiful public squares, and many restaurants and bars.

Things to Do in Lucca

Lucca Cathedral

The cathedral is located in San Martino, the most famous square in Lucca. It was built in the 11th century and was reconstructed and redesigned in the 14th century. It is a beautiful cathedral; when you visit it, you will see the front facade with beautiful arches and carved pillars; this is evidence that the cathedral is an important place and contains many valuable items. After seeing the front of the cathedral, you will enter the corridor decorated with excellent boasts created by Lombard artisans in the 13th century. In the main hall are four magnificent carved scenes from the life of St. Martin by Nicola Pisano, dating back to the 13th century.

On the right side of the church, there is a campanile, which is 69 meters high and made of coloured travertine and brick. There is also a famous stone carving of St. Martin and the beggar, made in the 13th century. This stone carving is well known as one of the best examples of Romanesque sculpture. Other famous interior carvings in the cathedral are the pulpit by Matteo Civitali, paintings in the sacristy by Doménico Ghirlandaio, and soiled glass in the apse since 1485.

You will also find a St. John the Evangelist statue by Iácopo della Quercia to the left of the shelter. Then we come to the left transept, where you will see the tomb of Ilaria Del Carretto, an excellent work by Iácopo della Quercia from the 15th century. One of the most beautiful works in the cathedral is the Volto Santo, a monument of Christ on the Cross. The Lucca Cathedral Museum contains many valuable things, like medieval hymnals and intricate goldwork, including a crucifix by Pisani. This is one of the famous places in Lucca that you will surely love to experience.

San Michele in Foro

This is another beautiful church located in the centre of Lucca and is one of the most famous attractions in the city. Unlike other churches in Lucca, it has a unique front facade. The church of San Michele was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. The carved and inlaid marble facade is fascinating, and you can’t find anything similar in any other church in Lucca.  

The Romanesque character of the church’s interior has been protected and is highlighted by the terra-cotta Madonna and Child by Andrea della Robbia. Many details are found, from the carvings on the columns to the stonework around the rose windows. You will find a fantastic painting in the church, a panel of saints Roch, Sebastian, Jerome, and Helen, one of Filippo Lippi’s finest works.

Piazza Napoleone

Piazza Napoleone is one of the main squares in Lucca. It is surrounded by many important and famous buildings in the city. The square is located near the Piazza dell Anfiteatro another famous square there. While you are in the square, you will see these buildings, some of which are on the west side, such as the Della Provincia Palace, which was built in 1578, and some on the southwest of the palace, like the Church of San Romano that the Dominicans built in 1280 and inside, you will find the tomb of St. Romanus.

If you go to the square’s north side, you will come across the church of San Giusto, built in the 12th century with a facade of sandstone and marble bands and reconstructed in Baroque style in the 17th century. The square has many other buildings, including the Giglio Theatre, the Museum of del Risorgimento, and the Prefettura Di Lucca. The square of Napoleone is a very interesting place with many things to do there, so we are sure you will have a great time visiting its many attractions.

The Town Walls

The old town of Lucca is surrounded by walls about 4 kilometres long with eleven fortresses and six gates. These walls were constructed in the Renaissance and are still standing today. They are also one of the most complete and well-preserved fortifications in Italy. Flemish engineers built the walls between 1504 and 1645 to protect the town, and they were 12 meters high and 30 meters thick at the base. Then, when Maria Luigia of Bourbon, the sister of Napoleon, came and ruled Lucca, she converted all the fortresses into a public garden.

Visitors can walk or cycle there amidst the wonderful trees surrounding the place and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the old town. You will love seeing the old gates of the town of Lucca, especially the Porta San Pietro on the south side, the Porta Santa Maria on the north side, and the Porta San Donato on the west end.

Piazza dell Anfiteatro

Another famous construction in Lucca dates back to Roman times. Still, you can see the elliptical shape of the Amphitheater, which is evident even if none of the original structures are. The Roman Amphitheatre was built in the 2nd century, but unfortunately, it was destroyed during the invasions, and its remains lie under the street level. In the Middle Ages, houses were built in the square on the superstructure’s walls, preserving the arena’s oval outline. The buildings surrounding the square have been constructed in the same elliptical shape and are all different heights and colours; the shades of yellow, cream, and white create an inviting open space.  You will find restaurants and cafes with seats outside in the square near these beautiful buildings, where you can sit and relax.

Guinigi Tower

Although Lucca is full of well-known towers, the Guinigi Tower is perhaps the most famous one in town. The tower was built in the 14th century, and it is an excellent example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. It was designed with uncovered bricks and a series of arched windows. The tower is a part of the Case dei Guinigi, a complex of two mansions belonging to the noble family that brought Lucca peace and growth at the beginning of the 15th century.  The Guinigi Tower is 45 meters high, and on the top, you can see many places around the city of Lucca. Another exciting thing is its rooftop garden with beautiful Holm Oak trees that stand for the Renaissance and have become an icon of Lucca. 

Pfanner-Controni Palace:

The Palace was built in 1667 and inside the walls of the old town of Lucca. Pfanner Controni Palace is famous for its open two-story loggia with a staircase, a harmonious Renaissance creation. In the palace, you will find a wonderful garden created many years after the castle was built by architect Filippo Juvarra, who had done many works in Turin. When you enter the garden, you will see a monumental sculpture, exotic trees, hedges, a lemon house, a pool, and a fountain in a harmonious arrangement that makes it seem much more spacious.

San Frediano

The church of San Frediano was built between 1112 and 1147 and dedicated to the Bishop of Lucca. If you visit the church, you will see that the lower part of the facade is plain, but the part above it is a big mosaic of Christ flanked by two angels with the 12 Apostles below. If you visit other churches in Italy, you might not see a façade decorated in mosaics except in this church and San Miniato al Monte in Florence.

Orto Botanico Comunale di Lucca

The magnificent Communal Botanical Gardens of Lucca is located on the southeastern side of the old town of Lucca. The garden was founded in 1820 by the Duchess of Parma and contains lovely trees, plants, and flowers. Also, you will find greenhouses, a nursery, a herbarium, and several ponds and water features. This is a great place to visit, where you can see beautiful views and relax.

Puccini Museum:

Giacomo Puccini is a famous composer born on 22 December 1858. His house has now been converted into a museum that contains personal mementoes of his life and work. Before you enter the museum, there is a statue of the composer standing in the courtyard. When you enter the museum, you will find many posters advertising his operas, musical scores, letters, and furniture. If you visit the museum, you should look for Di Simo Cafè in Via Fillungo as it is a favourite place for artists and musicians, and Giacomo Puccini was one of them. The café still looks the same as in the old days, and Puccini is a hero in this town, so much so that there is a day in the year dedicated to his music.

Museum of Villa Mansi

This villa, built by the Benedetti family in the 16th century, lies about 25 minutes northeast of Lucca. It has a fantastic front façade with an ornate staircase and an arched portico. The villa also contains some beautiful flowers and a group of marble statues. It is another attraction in Lucca that you will love to visit, especially in the afternoon sun.

The National Museum

The villa Guinigi, now the national museum, was first built for Paolo Guinigi, who ruled Lucca from 1400 to 1430. The villa is a beautiful building with a gallery room and a group of triple windows framed in arches in a Gothic style. The museum contains collections of Etruscan and Roman sculptures discovered in a cemetery at San Concordio in 1982. There is also other art from Lucca’s middle-aged churches, such as a painting from the 13th century of the Crucifixion by Berlinghiero Berlinghieri. The National Museum is a great attraction for art lovers, and I recommend you visit it if you happen to be in Lucca.

Aqueduct of Nottolini

The Aqueduct of Nattolini is located on the side south of Lucca. The canal was used in the old days to carry water from the mountains into the city, and it consists of 400 arches made from stones that extend for 3 km. Make sure to visit the Aqueduct of Nattolini, which begins at the Temple cistern and ends at the Parco dell’Acquedotto. While you see the canal, you will also enjoy the beautiful landscape surrounding the place and the excellent construction of the canal.

Torre delle Ore

The Torre della Ore is a clock tower with defensive fortification and one of the tallest towers in Lucca. The tower was constructed in the 14th century and was a defensive tower in the old days. After a long time of no wars, it became a horological clock tower. While you visit the Torre della Ore, you can climb about 200 steps to check out the beautiful view of the city and many other towers, as well as the Cathedral and Basilica of San Frediano.

Church and Baptistery of San Giovanni and Santa Reparata

The church was built in the 4th century, but many restorations have made it typical of the Tuscan Romanesque style. When you enter the church, look at the columns, and you will also see some recycled Roman stonework. The excavation under the church will show more about the Roman history surrounding its construction. You will find many remnants of Roman architecture, like ruins and mosaic floors of a Roman home, thermal baths, and Longobard tombs from the 7th century.  Visitors can climb the bell tower and see beautiful views. The church rings with Puccini arias, and many shows are held by singers and musicians who perform their work nightly.

Carrara

The town of Carrara is located north of Lucca, and it is famous for its marble quarries and is also known for being the place where Michelangelo went to choose perfect pieces for his works personally. In Carrara, there is also the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, built between the 11th and 14th centuries, which has a beautiful Romanesque and Gothic facade with a precise rose window engraved from local marble. One of the other lovely things in Carrara is the Madonna delle Grazie church, which contains beautiful marble decoration. The Marble Museum is another attraction in Carrara; the museum presents the history of marble from Roman times to modern days. In the museum, you can see many kinds of marble and Carrara’s translucent stone that Michelangelo used in his essential works. 

Da Pasquale Restaurant

You can’t visit all these places without relaxing and having a good meal at Da Pasquale, one of the best restaurants in Lucca, specifically on the Via del Moro in the heart of the old town. The restaurant is well known for its seafood and offers beautiful Italian dishes, such as ravioli and pasta. You can also enjoy a glass of wine with their delicious dishes.  

Vinni Liquori Vanni

This is the perfect place for wine lovers; its vast wine cellar contains many different kinds of wine. You can try some samples or participate in a wine-tasting session. Vinni Liquori Vanni is a great place to visit and spend time for a different experience.

The Apuane Alpine Park

The park is located just an hour north of Lucca. It is a huge landscape of natural beauty that also includes parts of the Apuan Alps Mountain. The mountain peaks include Monte Pisanino, Monte Tambura, Pania della Croce, and Monte Sagro. It is a great place to explore, hike, and climb, and it is also famous for its beautiful marble. Other interesting things you can do or visit in the park are the ancient marble quarries, the stunning Lipu Oasis, and the Casola Museum.

Pisa

Everybody knows the city of Pisa, which is only 17 km away from Lucca, so you can go on a day trip there if you visit Lucca. If you go by train, bus or even car, it will only take you around 30 minutes. When you reach Pisa, you will find many beautiful places to visit on the River Arno, and you will have the opportunity to take some stunning pictures. Some lovely attractions you can visit are the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Piazza del Miracole, and the many museums and galleries around the city.

Places to Stay in Lucca: 

San Luca Palace Hotel:

It is a mid-range hotel inside the city walls, offering a scrumptious breakfast menu.

Il Seminario Bed & Breakfast:

It is a good budget hotel with family rooms and is known for its delicious breakfast pastries.

Alla Corte Degli Angeli:

It is located on a quiet street, so if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, this hotel is for you. It is also affordable, with beautifully decorated rooms, hand-painted murals, and a tasty breakfast. 

Lucca is a wonderful town with many opportunities for outings and activities, whether visiting one of its famous churches, parks, or even a place to have a great meal. You will be amazed by its beautiful architecture, buildings from centuries ago, and the blend of modern-day attractions and numerous restaurants.