Lucca
Lucca is one of the most elegant and beloved cities in Tuscany, famous for its perfectly preserved Renaissance walls, today transf...
Updated 18 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Lucca now
The story
The story of Lucca
The city within the walls
Lucca's distinctive feature is its sixteenth-century walls, among the best preserved in Europe, which entirely encircle the historic centre without ever having been demolished. Over time transformed into a long, tree-lined elevated park, today they can be walked or cycled, offering a unique perspective over the city and the surrounding countryside. To enter Lucca is to immerse yourself in a maze of medieval streets, squares and palaces that tell a story of communal freedom and mercantile prosperity lasting centuries.
Squares, towers and churches
The city's scenic heart is Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, with its distinctive elliptical shape carved from the remains of the ancient Roman amphitheatre, surrounded by colourful houses and cafés. Nearby rises the Guinigi Tower, recognisable for the centuries-old holm oaks growing on its top, from which you enjoy a 360-degree panorama. The many churches, such as the basilica of San Frediano with its mosaic façade and the church of San Michele in Foro, testify to the splendour of Lucca's Romanesque and the city's spiritual richness.
The Cathedral and Puccini's city
San Martino Cathedral holds two treasures: the Volto Santo, an ancient wooden crucifix and object of great devotion, and the famous funerary Monument to Ilaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia, a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. Lucca is also the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini, one of the greatest opera composers: his birth house is now a museum and each year the city dedicates festivals and concerts to him. Strolling among the Puccinian places adds a musical, poetic note to the visit.
Villas, hills and surroundings
Outside the walls, the Lucca countryside is dotted with magnificent historic villas with Italian gardens, summer residences of the old city nobility, such as the famous villas of Marlia, Torrigiani and Reale. The hills surrounding the city are ideal for walks and hikes, while its proximity to the Garfagnana, the Apuan Alps and the Versilia makes Lucca an excellent starting point for discovering mountains, spas and sea. A city that harmoniously combines urban elegance and surrounding nature.
Lucca's flavours and traditions
Lucca's cuisine is rich and genuine: the spelt soup of the Garfagnana, the Lucca tordelli filled with ragù, the sweet buccellato and the extra-virgin olive oil of the hills are among its specialities. Every year, in September, the city celebrates the Luminara di Santa Croce, a solemn night-time procession in honour of the Volto Santo, while Lucca Comics & Games draws enthusiasts from all over the world. Among markets, workshops and historic cafés, Lucca offers an authentic, relaxed experience, far from the frenzy of the major destinations.
Not to be missed
- The circuit of the Renaissance walls on foot or by bicycle
- Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and the Guinigi Tower with its oaks
- San Martino Cathedral with Ilaria del Carretto and the Volto Santo
- The birthplace of Giacomo Puccini
- The historic villas and gardens of the Lucca countryside
To see
What to see in Lucca
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Routes in Lucca
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