Lucca is one of Tuscany’s most bellowed towns. Its mighty defensive walls are protecting its amazing
heritage, ancient mysteries and legends. One of many mysteries is this stone labyrinth
with latin inscription on the wall of the Cathedral. Hi guys, my name is Rok and
I’m a tour guide and I can’t wait to show you the Best things to do in Lucca, Italy.
Impressive defensive walls are the landmark of Lucca. Over the centuries they’ve successfully
protected the town, managed to avoid world wars and remained almost completely intact.
Walls of Lucca rise 12 meters or 40 feet above the ground and offer great views.
Loop trail along the top encircles the entire old town and takes about an hour of walking.
First walls were built by the Romans, but its current, fourth iteration is from 16 and 1700s.
The latest walls were built to protect the town against canons so their base is massive,
reaching 30 meters or almost 100 feet wide. There are also eleven bastions and six town gates. In
the late 1800s the walls were turned into a public park and have become a popular recreational area.
Thanks to the walls Lucca managed to stay independent for more than 700 years,
until French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte became the only person to ever conquer the town.
And this square is officially named after him, although the citizens are calling
it Piazza Grande. Square has always been the centre of political power,
but before Napoleon it was very different. After Napoleon conquered Tuscany in 1805,
he gave Lucca to his sister, Elisa Bonaparte. One of her projects was a reconstruction of this
square. According to the Elisas plans, the square should be dominated by a big statue of Napoleon.
But, in his place stands a statue of Marie Louise of Bourbon. After Napoleon was defeated,
Marie Louise replaced Elisa and placed her statue in front of the Public Palace.
From the main square, we go to the main street. Ancient street Via Fillungo runs right through
the heart of the historic centre. It begins at one of the city gates and ends with Canto d’Arco,
a famous intersection of four streets right in the middle of the old town that also serves
as a traditional meeting point for citizens. This narrow and picturesque medieval street is
the best shopping area in Lucca. It is lined with many shops, elegant clothes and shoe boutiques,
jewelry shops, cafes and restaurants. In addition to the main Italian and international chains
here are also historic shops of artisans with handmade clothes and accessories.
They are housed in historical palaces and houses, but the street is also lined
with churches and even a famous medieval clock tower, the highest building in town.
Like other medieval Tuscan towns, Lucca also had its towers. They were constructed during unstable
medieval times by rich families for personal protection and to show off their power and wealth.
And this was the highest tower, rising 50 meters or 165 feet high.
Tower was built in the 1200s and was later acquired by the government
and changed into a clock tower. Over the years the clock mechanism has changed and the current one
is dating to the 1700s. You can climb its 207 steps to enjoy one of the best views of
Lucca. The tower also features a legend of a woman named Lucida Mansi. She sold her soul to the devil
in order to remain young and beautiful. On the last night of the 30 year agreement,
just before the devil came to collect his payment, Lucida climbed to the tower in an attempt to stop
the hands of the clock. As she couldn't reach the clock in time, the devil collected her soul
and she haunts the tower to this day. But there is another and even more unique medieval tower.
This 1300s tower is different as it has trees growing on its top. It belonged to the Guingi
family, a ruling noble family that brought a period of peace and prosperity to Lucca.
They owned a complex of two palaces opposite to each other and this tower was part of it.
On the top of the tower, the Guinigi family created a roof garden with holm oaks to show
off their wealth and power. The tower’s green summit has become Lucca’s symbol and
the descendants of the family donated the tower to the local government. To get to the unusual
roof garden 45 meters or 130 feet above the town you will need to climb 233 steps. But besides the
medieval towers, Lucca is also a town of music. Famous Italian composer and author of world famous
operas was born in this house on a small square in 1858. His name was Giacomo Puccini. Puccini
spent his early years in Lucca, before moving to Milan and its world famous opera house La Scala.
Puccini's birth home is now a museum situated on the second floor of a historic building. In this
house Giacomo lived his happy childhood years, until at the age of 6 his father had passed away.
Later the apartment was sold, but after becoming a successful composer, Giacomo bought it back.
In the 1970s the Puccini family donated the apartment to be transformed into a museum.
The rooms were restored to their original appearance and contain objects, letters,
paintings and other precious items that once belonged to the famous composer.
About half an hour’s journey from Lucca you can also visit the composer's villa,
still in the hands of the Puccini family. Just a stone's throw from the Puccini museum
is a large square with the beautiful church of San Michele in Foro. The church is so impressive
that it is often mistaken for Lucca's cathedral. Last part of the name, in Foro, means at Forum,
as this used to be the most important square of ancient Roman town called the
Forum. First church was standing here already in the 700s, but it was rebuilt
by the orders of Pope Alexander in the 1100s. Façade is a magnificent piece of art from the
13th century with sculptures and inlays. There are four orders of small loggias
and on the top, flanked by two other angels, is a statue of St. Michael the Archangel
to whom the church is dedicated. The interior with two aisles and a nave is adorned with beautiful
artwork. Among others you can admire Madonna with a child and a panel portraying the Four Saints.
The church also has an elegant bell tower, built between the 12 and 14th centuries. But if you feel
peckish look around the square and pop in to the historical, family run Taddeucci pastry shop. Here
they bake a traditional sweet bread buccellato. It is made of flour, sugar, aniseed and raisins and
is naturally leavened. It is eaten all year and is shaped in the form of a ring or a loaf. Here
they have a saying that anyone who comes to Lucca and doesn't eat buccellato,
can’t say they have been there. So I will make sure that I can say I have been in Lucca.
This ancient bread originates from Roman times as its name derives from the Latin word for bite.
Lucca has many beautiful squares, but the most interesting one is famous for its
elliptical shape. Unique shape derives from the ancient Roman Amphitheater
that used to stand here and could accommodate 10.000 spectators.
During unstable medieval times many ancient Roman structures were converted into fortresses.
This amphitheater was no exception as all of its outside arches were closed to make it
impenetrable. Later, the ruins were covered by houses that were built on the remaining walls,
preserving the oval outline of the arena. You can still find traces of the original walls,
but the base of the ancient structure is buried about nine feet deep. The remaining vaults and
arches have been incorporated into old houses that circle the plaza. All around the square
are shops and restaurants and the central part has become a popular meeting area. You can enter the
square through one of its four gateways, one at each of the four extremes of the ellipse.
Remember the mysterious stone carved labyrinth? It can be found in the Cathedral dedicated to
St. Martin, the patron saint of Lucca. Church was built reusing ancient columns and capitals
and was consecrated in 1070 by Pope himself. The exterior was later elaborated in the 1200's
with the addition of marble facade, arcades, beautifully decorated doors and elegant portico
where labyrinth is placed on one of the pillars. The interior guards three great masterpieces. And
because of one of them, this church became a famous pilgrim site in the early middle ages.
First masterpiece is Ilaria del Carretto’s tomb and represents one of the finest works of 15th
century Italian sculpture. Second masterpiece is Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints.
But the third masterpiece is the one that has been attracting pilgrims for centuries.
It is called Volto Santo, or The Holy Face. This is a large-scale wooden crucifix guarded inside an
octagonal chapel. It is very unusual as it shows Christ wearing a tunic and his eyes are open to
show triumph over death. But the most mysterious part is that no one knows its origin. According to
the legend it was carved by Nicodemus, a man who helped to bury Jesus after the crucifixion. That
is why it shows the true face of Christ and it apparently even contained an ampoule of the blood
of Christ in a hollow behind the shoulders. The Cathedral also has a small museum
that includes interesting vestments that have been used during the Volto Santo Festival
since Medieval time. You can also climb the bell tower from the 1200s, to enjoy spectacular views.
Interestingly Lucca hosts the largest annual comics festival in Europe known as Lucca Comics
and Games. It happens at the end of October when lovers of cartoon characters, animation and gaming
from all over Europe gather here. As there is plenty more to see and
do around here I also prepared a list of my favourite Lucca tours and experiences
in the description below. You can also check my other Tuscany videos in the top right corner.
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