Lucca’s historic sixteenth-century walls enclose a historic center of incomparable beauty with an immense cultural heritage. Let’s discover together the things to do in Lucca and what to visit in the city.
The history of Lucca
But before exploring the things to do in Lucca, let’s delve into its fascinating history together. The Romans founded the city of Lucca, but its origins are undoubtedly older. Known in the past as a rich center of merchants and weavers, Lucca was an independent state until 1799.
Before the Romans
Before the Roman conquest, the territory of Lucca welcomed scattered settlements of Apuan Ligurians and then Etruscans. Archaeological research shows evidence of iron mining activities dating back to 1000 BC, and coins with Greek inscriptions date back to the 4th century BC. However, the debate about the pre-Roman origins of Lucca is still open.
Roman era
The first mention of Lucca in Roman times dates back to 218 BC. During the Second Punic War, Hannibal pursued the Roman consul Sempronius Longus, who sought refuge near Lucca. Later, the Romans engaged in a war with the Apuan Ligurians, ultimately defeating them in 179 BC. In 56 BC, Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus met in Lucca to renew the Triumvirate.
During the period of the Roman Republic, Lucca became an important fortified city in an excellent strategic position. Its fame lasted for centuries and played a decisive role in medieval events. The spread of Christianity in Lucca also dates back to the Republican era. Furthermore, archaeological excavations have found the ruins of an early Christian basilica dedicated to Santa Reparata and dating back to the 4th-5th century.
The Lombard and Frankish occupation
After the occupation of the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines in 574, the Lombards dominated Tuscany. Lucca became the capital of their kingdom. The bishop of the city was San Frediano (566–588). A bloody struggle broke out with the Byzantines, still present in some areas. The Lombards prevailed. Subsequently, King Autari divided the kingdom into the Duchy of Lucca, the Duchy of Florence, and the Duchy of Pisa. Furthermore, this was the period of the flourishing of monasteries throughout the territory.
In 774, the Carolingians conquered Lucca and established the Marquisate of Tuscany with Florence as its capital. During this period, they also built numerous monasteries. With the Treaty of Verdun in 843, the Duchy of Lucca acquired significant importance, so much so that in 901 it welcomed Emperor Louis III.
The Middle Ages
In 1027, the municipality was born in Lucca. It all began with the privilege granted by Henry IV. In 1119, some documents mention the existence of consuls in Lucca. The passage of pilgrims from the Via Francigena and the silk trade made Lucca one of the most prosperous cities in northern Italy.
Soon the city split into the factions of the Black Guelphs and the White Guelphs. In 1314, Uguccione della Faggiola, lord of Pisa, defeated the Tuscan Guelphs and conquered Lucca. A popular uprising drove him out just two years later, electing Castruccio Castracani degli Antelminelli as the new duke of Lucca. The years that followed were glorious, but after his death in 1328, Lucca experienced a long period of decadence and anarchy.
The Guinigi
After bitter struggles between the local lords, on 21 November 1400, Paolo Guinigi became lord of Lucca. The city experienced a recovery thanks to the silk trade and the banking sector. In 1413, Emperor Sigismondo officially recognized the lordship of the Guinigi. Around 1418, a war began with the Florentines, who besieged the walls in 1429. The intervention of the first Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, saved the city.
An aristocratic republic established itself between alternating alliances, conspiracies, and popular revolts. In the second half of the fifteenth century, Lucca again experienced a period of decline. The city remained an independent republic until 1799, when the French took over, establishing the Principality of Lucca and Piombino, entrusted to Elisa, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Things to do in Lucca
The time has come to discover things to do in Lucca, including visits to monuments, attractions, and museums.
Cathedral of San Martino
The 6th-century Cathedral of San Martino underwent a Romanesque style rebuild in 1060. The Gothic style remodeling took place between the 12th and 14th centuries. The cathedral is located on the edge of the ancient Roman city. The façade has an arched portico and many sculptures and bas-reliefs. On the right is the beautiful bell tower dating back to the 14th century.
The interior of the cathedral
The interior houses numerous works of art, of which we recall the most important. The Tempietto del Volto Santo is a shrine dating back to the end of the 15th century with the crucifix of the same name. According to legend, the Volto Santo of Lucca is a wooden crucifix that is not the work of man. Europe has venerated it since the Middle Ages. It is believed that the one in Lucca is a copy from the 9th or 11th century.
The famous sculptor Jacopo della Quercia created the funeral monument of the noblewoman Ilaria del Carretto at the beginning of the 15th century. The lord of Lucca, Paolo Guinigi, commissioned the monument for his deceased wife. It represents one of the best examples of funerary sculpture of the time. We also remember the labyrinth carved in the right pillar of the portico’s façade. This symbol is one of the most mysterious in Italy, and many scholars attribute it to the Templars.
Basilica of San Frediano
The Basilica of San Frediano is one of the oldest places of worship in the city and has a Romanesque style. The three saints Vincenzo, Stefano, and Lorenzo have been the focus of a religious building in this location since the sixth century. San Frediano, an Irish priest who became the bishop of Lucca between 560 and 588, commissioned the construction of the church. In 1112, the reconstruction of the building began. In the 12th century, the church was lower than it is today. They raised the height of the central nave and added mosaic decorations to the upper part of the façade. The mosaic depicts Christ between the angels and the apostles.
Despite the significant interventions that have taken place over the centuries, the medieval appearance of the basilica is still dominant today. The interiors house numerous works of sacred art. The fresco depicting the martyrdom of Saints Lorenzo, Vincenzo, and Stefano is one of the oldest examples of medieval painting in Lucca and dates back to the first half of the 12th century. Among the most significant examples of Romanesque sculpture in Lucca is the baptismal font, also from the 12th century. The high altar is from the 16th century and contains the tomb of San Frediano. In the basilica there are remains of the ancient Cosmatesque floor from the 12th century.
Church of San Michele in Foro
The church of San Michele in Foro is located in the Roman Forum Square. San Michele has had a dedicated church here since the 8th century. Beginning in 1070, the building underwent reconstruction and expansion, a process that persisted until the 14th century. The grandiose façade of the church features a succession of loggias, columns, bas-reliefs, and decorations in Pisan Romanesque style. These architectural elements amplify the effect of verticality.
Among the artworks inside are the Madonna and Child paintings by the renowned painter Luca della Robbia and the Four Saints panel by Filippino Lippi. This church in Lucca is one of the places where the sacred line of San Michele passes. The main places of devotion to San Michele Arcangelo arrange themselves on an imaginary straight line. The line runs from the Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel in Israel to the monastery on the islet of Skellig Michael in Ireland, also passing through the Sacra di San Michele in Val di Susa.
The walls of Lucca
One of the things to do in Lucca is to take walks along the ancient walls. In fact, the historic center of the city is within a perfectly preserved sixteenth-century wall. It is possible to travel them entirely on foot and by bicycle, thanks to the tree-lined avenues and parks at the summit. The walls of Lucca are almost 5 kilometers long, and some structures date back to Roman times, others to the Middle Ages.
Access to the historic center is still through the six monumental gates. In addition, there are 11 bastions. Over the centuries, the walls have incorporated additional buildings serving military purposes. Museums and recreational venues now reside in some of the converted buildings. Visitors can partially explore the walls of Lucca, which feature suggestive underground areas.
Historic buildings
Palazzo Ducale in Piazza Napoleone is today the seat of the Province of Lucca, the Historical Institute of Lucca, the Institute for the Resistance, the Museum of the Risorgimento, and other institutions. Famous architects such as Bartolomeo Ammannati and Filippo Juvarra worked on its construction. However, Lord Castruccio Castracani built its original core in the Middle Ages as a fortress.
Palazzo Pretorio is the ancient seat of the municipality and is located in Piazza San Michele. Among the countless historic buildings in the center of Lucca, this is the one that best represents the Renaissance period. The double loggia, the ancient sixteenth-century wrought iron lantern, and the large clock stand out on the façades.
Piazza dell’Anfiteatro
One of the symbols of Lucca is Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. It covers the area of the Roman amphitheater of the 1st century and follows its shape. In fact, between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, a row of houses appeared on the arches of the amphitheater, following its elliptical shape. Even today, the houses outside the square incorporate the Roman amphitheater’s structures into their facades.
The current appearance of the square dates back to 1830, when it became the site of the market. The square’s history, shape, and ancient colored houses make it one of Italy’s most beautiful.
Piazza Napoleone
Thanks to the presence of the Palazzo Ducale, Piazza Napoleone has always represented the center of political power in Lucca. Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister Elisa wanted to build this square.
In the center is the statue of Maria Luisa Di Borbone, Duchess of Lucca in the 1820s. Archaeological excavations have discovered the ancient foundations of the buildings that once occupied the area of the square.
Piazza San Michele
Piazza San Michele develops around the church of the same name. In Roman times, the area was a forum, and in the Renaissance era, the trade of the Republic of Lucca took place there.
The square displays the statues of some of the characters of the history of Lucca: the architect Matteo Civitali, the explorer Carlo Piaggia, and the politician Francesco Burlamacchi. Numerous Renaissance buildings, such as the sixteenth-century Palazzo del Decanato, the Palazzo Pretorio, the Palazzo Gigli, and medieval houses, overlook the square.
Torre Guinigi
Among the things to do in Lucca are visits to its ancient towers. The famous Torre Guinigi is another symbol of the city. It rises above the historic building of the same name on Via Sant’Andrea. At its top is the hanging garden with seven holm oaks. You can visit the tower by ascending 45 meters and 230 steps. Along the stairs there are numerous paintings with scenes of medieval life.
It offers a wonderful view of the entire historic center and the surrounding area. The construction of Torre Guinigi took place in the late Middle Ages, when the Guinigi family took power over the city. The tower served to show rivals and enemies the wealth of the family.
Torre delle Ore
The Torre delle Ore is between Via Fillungo and Via Arancio. Thanks to its 50 meters, it was the tallest of the 130 towers present in the city in the Middle Ages. It dates back to 1390 and has a white clock visible from the entire historic center. An internal wooden staircase of 207 steps allows visits. According to a legend, the tower played a pivotal role in the story of Lucida Mansi.
This woman made a pact with the Devil, to whom she gave her soul to stay young and beautiful. However, the Devil would return to her after 30 years to claim payment of the debt. On the night of August 14, 1623, at the end of the agreed-upon thirty years, Lucida Mansi desperately climbed the tower in an attempt to stop the bell from ringing, thereby averting her death. However, the woman was unable to reach the bell, which rang at midnight. So the Devil took her soul.
Via Fillungo
One of the most beautiful and evocative streets in the historic center of Lucca is Via Fillungo. Along this street, there are some of the most fascinating things to do in Lucca, such as shopping and visiting historic shops. With a medieval appearance, ancient red brick houses and historic cafes with Art Nouveau decorations overlook Via Fillungo.
Lucca’s museums
One of the things to do in Lucca is to visit the city’s museums.
National Museum of Villa Guinigi
The National Museum of Villa Guinigi is in Via della Quarquonia, inside one of the most beautiful villas in the center. Paolo Guinigi, the lord of Lucca, actually commissioned it at the beginning of the fifteenth century. The collections are varied and include Etruscan, Ligurian, and Roman archaeological finds from the Serchio valley, Garfagnana, and Versilia.
Then, we have the historical-artistic collections of the city, which include works by artists from Lucca and foreign artists who worked in the city from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. In addition, a collection of medical instruments from the ancient hospital of San Luca and measuring instruments from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries occupies an entire section of the museum.
National Museum of Palazzo Mansi
In Via Galli Tassi, the museum of Palazzo Mansi allows you to admire the sixteenth-century building with Baroque-style interiors. The collection also includes period furniture, frescoes, and tapestries from Brussels. The collection of the Pinacoteca includes paintings from the 16th to the 18th century and works of art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The Maria Niemack rustic weaving workshop with looms and other 19th and 20th century work tools is also very interesting.
Museum and Archaeological Complex of the Cathedral of Lucca
The Cathedral Museum houses works of art and finds from San Martino. The museum itinerary includes eight rooms. The collection includes choir books, illuminated manuscripts, and the Treasury with the Jewels of the Holy Face. Furthermore, we recall the crown and gold necklace, crafted by Ambrogio Giannoni in the 17th century, as well as the diamond jewel, a creation of French goldsmiths from the court of the Sun King. Additionally, there are sculptures, paintings, important reliquaries, goldsmiths, and precious fabrics.
Puccini House-Museum
In Corte San Lorenzo 8, there is the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini, born here on December 22, 1858. In the rooms of his apartment, you can admire the original furnishings, personal objects of the musician, autographed scores, and collections of letters. Additionally, Puccini has owned the Turandot costume and the Steinway & Sons piano since the spring of 1901. With it, he composed his last opera, Turandot.
Museum of the Risorgimento
The Museum of the Risorgimento is inside the Palazzo Ducale. It houses artifacts from the Italian historical period of the Risorgimento and the First World War. Among the relics, a flag from 1821 for the Carboneria and objects attributable to Garibaldi and Mazzini stand out. The armory includes pieces from different historical periods and countries. The collection also includes paintings, letters, and objects of daily use from that era.
Domus Romana Lucca, Casa del Fanciullo sul Delfino
In 2012, excavations in the basement of Palazzo Orsucci unearthed wall structures and artifacts dating back to the 1st century BC, spanning the Lombard, medieval, and Renaissance periods. Among the finds are an ancient fibula, a coin from 14 AD with a depiction of the emperor Augustus, and a terracotta frieze. It dates back to 56 BC and depicts two children on dolphins.
Other things to do in Lucca
Instead, this travel guide will provide you with tips for finding restaurants in Lucca.
What to see in the surroundings Attractions in Garfagnana: what to see among nature and villages.
Things to do in Lucca Gallery
Video Lucca
Lucca map
Lucca weather
Meteo Lucca
Lucca Tourist Information Offices
The tourist information offices in Lucca can be found:
- IAT Lucca, Porta San Donato Vecchia-Piazzale Verdi. The office is open from April 1st to October 31st from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and from November 1st to March 31st from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Families can use the Baby Corner at the office to breastfeed and change diapers. Call (+39) 0583 583150 or email turismolucca@luccaplus.it.
- InfoPoint Walls in Lucca Castello di Porta San Donato. The office is open from November 5th to March 20th, Tuesday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, the office is open from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. From March 21st to November 4th, open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Phone: (+39) 0583 442213; email: info@turismo.lucca.it.
- Checkpoint, City of Lucca, at Palatucci Parking, Viale Carlo del Prete. From April 1st to October 31st, the office is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: 0583 583150; 0583 582389; email: checkpointbus@luccaplus.it
