Founded by Etruscans and later conquered by the Roman Empire, Lucca offers its visitors an old town truly rich in heritage and culture. The city played a fundamental role in the past due to its silk market and, also, experienced great prosperity due to its strategic position, on the route to Rome, for pilgrims from northern Europe. It has a historic center that is not excessively large, which allows you to explore it on foot, and it is ideal for those who want a getaway, for one or two days, beyond the typical Tuscan cities such as Florence, Siena or Pisa.
Talking about Lucca and not talking about music is like talking about Venice and not mentioning its canals or gondolas. The reason? The famous Giacomo Puccini is one of the characters born in this town. His involvement in the history of universal music is essential, since he was the composer of La bohème, one of the most famous and performed operas in the world. He is considered one of the most important composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his musical legacy of arias and other scores is impressive.
Walking through Piazza Cittadella you can take a photo with the sculpture that pays homage to Puccini. Very close to there is the house-museum where the composer lived. Instruments, cards, costumes and many other objects of this illustrious are preserved in this palace. Likewise, to delve into the ties that unite Lucca with music, there are guided tours with really curious facts. They generally do not exceed 15 euros per person and these tours also talk about other composers born in the city, such as Francesco Geminiani, Luigi Boccherini or Alfredo Catalani.
During your visit to Lucca, you cannot miss a walk along its impressive walls. The city passed from hand to hand for centuries, but tried to maintain its independence until the definitive unification of the Kingdom of Italy around the year 1860. From this feeling of autonomy, it is understood that it was vital to protect itself with sober defensive walls that contained possible attackers. .
The wall that can be seen today was built, between the 16th and 17th centuries, on the ruins of previous ones. It is one of the best-preserved walled complexes in Europe and also stands out for the beautiful views it offers of the botanical garden and the main buildings of the town. The stone framework, about four kilometers long, is in a wonderful state of conservation thanks to the absence of war conflicts. The greatest threat suffered by this wall occurred in 1812, when the overflow of the Serchio river almost flooded the town, but the gates of the walls were closed and managed to contain the waters. Quite an achievement!
Did you know that Lucca is known as the city of 100 towers and 100 churches? Although there are not as many standing as we would like, the truth is that the town center stands out for the numerous bell towers and civil towers that rise above the roofs. We could talk, for example, about the 12th century church of San Cristoforo, the Basilica of San Frediano, with its façade decorated with golden mosaics, or the temple of San Michele built on a Roman forum. However, of all the religious monuments that are scattered along the urban layout, we highlight the Cathedral of San Martino.
The cathedral houses numerous works of art, one of the most important being the Holy Face of Lucca. It is said that this wooden carving was sculpted by Nicodemus himself, who helped Saint Joseph of Arimathea to place Christ in his tomb after the crucifixion. It is possible to visit the temple for less than five euros. And, as an addition, there are combined tickets that give access to the cathedral museum or to the archaeological excavations of the church of Santi Giovanni e Reparata.
If we say that Lucca is full of towers, what better than climbing one of them to enjoy incredible views of the city? The Guinigi tower is one of the most peculiar of all, since at its top it houses a curious garden of hundred-year-old holm oaks almost 45 meters high. Of course, to enjoy the panoramic views offered by this medieval marvel, you have to overcome some 230 steps. The approximate price of the entrance is five euros.
Another of the most emblematic monuments of Lucca is the Tower of the Hours, where it is also possible to climb. It was the highest of the 130 built during the Middle Ages, and stands out for its characteristic clock, active since 1754. From its top it is possible to contemplate the entire old town and the meadows of the so-called Piana di Lucca. Without a doubt, it is one of the most photogenic places in Tuscany.
Numerous small palaces remain from the days when Lucca was a prosperous merchant city. One of the best is the Mansi Palace, a perfect example of the houses of the Luquose merchants. A true journey through time between frescoes, classical pieces of furniture and numerous Flemish tapestries.
The National Museum of the Mansi Palace even has a valuable art gallery. Here, lovers of Art History will have a great time admiring paintings from the Italian and foreign schools, ranging from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Tintoretto, Salvator Rosa, Domenico Beccafumi, Rutilio Manetti or Pietro Testa are some of the many artists that are present in this pictorial exhibition. Similarly, during the visit you can access a curious weaving workshop with a wide collection of looms and old sewing utensils, located in the place where the palace kitchens were once located.
Towers, churches, museums, legends and music are the stars of any getaway to Lucca. However, the gastronomy deserves to be highlighted and, together with it, the good atmosphere that is breathed in the bars and cafeterias of this walled town. One of the places most frequented by tourists and locals is the Plaza del Anfiteatro, full of terraces. The square draws attention for its elliptical shape, and it is that it was projected precisely on the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre. Drinking an Aperol or a prosecco under the sun is a real pleasure.
Ocher, yellow and mustard colored buildings envelop the visitor in a bucolic setting in one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. Many of its restaurants, specializing in traditional cuisine, offer vegetables, cheeses, cold meats and stuffed pasta seasoned with a drizzle of olive oil. Pure pleasure for the most exquisite palates. And, how could it be otherwise, the Anfiteatro square is located a few steps from via Fillungo, one of the main commercial arteries of Lucca. Ideal to acquire some souvenir of this perfect getaway.
