LUCCA : Lucca travel guide Vacations tips Inspiration What to See Thinks to Do : ATTRAZIONI ITINERARI

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08.03.2006 06:13

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Tuscany region in Italy has many towns with World Heritage listed centres, but there's something about Lucca which charms beyond its handsome piazzas. We absolutely loved Lucca, this town is on the Top 3 - 5 on list of all Italian cities for many travel bloggers, who love Lucca and feel it is one of the dreamiest old-worldesque towns seen in Europe!
The city can be entirely explored on foot, and strolling the cobbled streets within the Renaissance era walls stopping every now and then at an historic cafe - is a real pleasure.

Many people visit Lucca as a day trip from Florence, but it's also an excellent base for exploring the rest of the region.
Nestled into the hills behind the city are beautiful villas, and the belle époque era spa so loved by Puccini.

Lucca makes a great base for your holiday in Tuscany, particularly if you're planning to visit the coast and into the valley of Garfagnana and Apuan Alps.
It is easy to reach the Versilia, Pisa, Florence and even the Cinque Terre easily by train, although places such as Siena and Chianti are more accessible by car.

The fortified city of Lucca is set amongst wine and olive groves in the green hills of Tuscany.
It has been beautifully preserved and boasts tall houses and palazzos laid out on a Roman grid, handsome fortifications, pretty squares and Romanesque churches.
It is the ideal destination for a sybaritic holiday with days given over to eating, drinking and lazing by the pool or a spot of sightseeing for the more energetic.

Lucca is a historical city located in Tuscany on the western coast of Italy
This city lies in close proximity to Pisa and is known as the city of a hundred churches due to its large amount of historical religious structures. Lucca is known throughout Italy for its fantastic medieval city walls that still encircle most of the historic old town.
Originally this city was founded by the Etruscans and was then a Roman colony around 180 BC. During the Roman era, Lucca served as an important meeting place for Julius Caesar and Crassus.
In later years, the city was an independent republic for nearly 500 years as part of feudal Italy.
During the 19th century, Lucca was conquered by Napoleon, and it finally became part of Unified Italy in 1860. Today, Lucca is a popular tourist destination and has close ties with Pisa.

The historic centre of Lucca will be one of the most delightful memories of your trip.
Walking hand in hand or cycling one after the other, you will be smitten by the elegance at Lucca's heart, its intricate web of little streets and piazzas, and its vibrant colours.

Lucca Cathedral Chiesa di San Martino
Located in the historic old town in the Piazza San Martino, the Duomo is a truly impressive structure and is renowned throughout Italy for its stunning façade and design.
The Volto Santo, or “Holy Face”, is an ancient wooden crucifix guarded inside Lucca’s Cathedral of San Martino.
This ancient artefact has been collecting centuries of legends and prayers, and every September it has its own festival, the light-filled Luminara di Santa Croce.

Guinigi Tower
Lucca has several interesting historical towers, but none are as interesting as the strange Torre Guinigi – this is the most important and iconic tower in Lucca and is known for its rooftop garden.
Created in the 14th century, this tower is a fantastic example of Romanesque/Gothic architecture and features an exposed brick design with a series of arched windows.
The Guinigi family, masters of Lucca, created this roof garden to show off their wealth and power, and the tower’s green summit is still one of Lucca’s symbols today .
It offers magnificent 360 degree views over Lucca.

Piazza Napoleone
Located only a short distance from the Piazza dell Anfiteatro, the Square of Napoleon is another fantastic open space within the historic town centre of Lucca and features some important buildings.
To the left hand side of the square you can find the Ducale Palace with its impressive front façade.
In front of the palace is an ornate white statue of Maria Luisa which is in turn framed on three sides by a series if luscious trees.

Piazza Dell'Anfiteatro
One of the most iconic and beautiful places in Lucca. Built on the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheatre, the famous oval-shaped piazza is today one of Lucca's most favoured meeting spots, especially on a sun-kissed Sunday. In piazza dell'Anfiteatro you can also expect to find many bars and trattorias that serve aperitifs and traditional local dishes.
This Square is exactly as the name describes and was once a Roman Amphitheatre the elliptical shape is still evident even if none of the original structure is.
The buildings surrounding the square have been created in the same elliptical shape and are all different heights and colours the effect is quite astounding and the shades of yellow, cream and white create an inviting open space.

Take a walk on the historic city walls Le Mura di Lucca Old City Wall
Surrounding the old centre of Lucca is a virtually complete complex of city walls this defensive network was constructed during the Renaissance and stands to this day.
It is one of the most complete and well preserved fortifications in Italy and you can walk around the whole city through a series of well-maintained promenades.
At strategic intervals there are 11 bastions such as the bulwark of San Martino and the Porta San Pietro.

Chiesa di San Michele In Foro church
Another stunning church in the centre of Lucca, the Basilica di San Michele in Foro features a unique front façade that is not like any other in the city.
The original church was first mentioned in the 8th century but gained its current form during the 13th century.

Orto Botanico Lucca
In the south eastern corner of the historic old town you can find the beautiful Communal Botanical Gardens of Lucca.
These gardens are expansive and cover two of the bastions on the city walls.
Established in 1820 by the Duchess of Parma, the gardens are extensive and feature some beautiful species of trees, plants and flowers.

Torre delle Ore Hours Tower Lucca
The Torre delle Ore has served as both a defensive fortification and a clock tower during its 700 year history.
Created in the 14th century, the tower was part of a private structure and was originally used for protection.

Basilica Of San Frediano Church
Lucca, known as ‘the town of 100 churches‘, is certainly a devout town.
After the Cathedral, the other religious ‘hot spot’ in town is the Romanesque Church of San Frediano.
Here you can have a weird and slightly macabre encounter with Saint Zita who died eight centuries ago. Her mummified body is exhibited in a glass cabinet.
The Basilica of San Frediano is yet another sublime religious structure in the heart of Lucca.
This building is renowned for its front façade that contains a beautiful mosaic and its impressive ornate bell tower.
During the 14th century the mosaic was added to the front of the church and has remained in remarkable condition to this day.

Giacomo Puccini Museum
If you are interested in music history you cannot pass up a visit to the birthplace of the great composer Giacomo Puccini.
Among the rooms, you will find traces and relics from his work and pieces, in addition to his and his family's furniture and belongings.

Taste two Lucca's speciality: 1 Zuppa di farro 2 Bucellato
When visiting an Italian town, you should always try one of the local dishes.
Food is very much part of the Italian culture, and even the smallest town has its very own recipes and specialities.

Shopping in the Via Fillungo main street of Lucca
Fillungo is Lucca’s main street, at the heart of the historic centre.
This narrow and picturesque street winds its way through beautiful palaces and is home to many shops, elegant clothes and shoe boutiques, bakeries and gelaterie.
If you love shopping you could spend an entire day here browsing, or indulging your sweet tooth at one of the fabulous pasticcerie.

Where to stay in Lucca - Dove dormire a Lucca
Alloggi vacanza a Lucca Appartamenti Bed & Breakfast Case vacanze Affittacamere Hotel Ville Case di campagna Agriturismi Ostelli Locande Alloggi in famiglia nella lucchesia, camere a Lucca.

Prenotazione alloggio a LUCCA by Booking & Welcometuscany.it