The phrase “Lucca is Tuscany’s best-kept secret” became, over the years, a cliché. However, that doesn’t make it any less accurate. This unassuming town tends to charm its visitors for life. It sits at the foot of Apuan Alps, less than an hour from the golden beaches of Versilia. Since it’s not a hilltop town, Lucca is easily accessible by car, bus, or bicycle, and, besides the enchanting surroundings, offers a wide variety of activities and attractions. Most of the Lucca landmarks are the reminders of its long and winding history: from the traces of the Roman amphitheater at the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro to the towers and villas from the 12-16th centuries. Furthermore, San Michele church with its confection of loggias, twisted columns, and blind arcades;
Piazza Anfiteatro sits in the heart of Lucca. It is very aptly named considering it was built atop a ruin of an ancient Roman amphitheater and maintained its elliptical shape. The original amphitheater stood since the 2nd century AC until the construction of the square in Middle Ages. To this day, the piazza remains a center of city’s social life that always bustles with activity. Naturally, the list of top things to do in Lucca, Italy, starts with this welcoming square. The buildings clustering around it respect the elliptic shape, yet, their varying heights give the place a little whimsy. Stop by to relax, grab a coffee or a tasty lunch! Let's go
Lucca boasts a unique feature, unseen in any other Tuscan city: an impeccably preserved ancient city walls and a green park. The city walls form a virtually perfect circle around the old town creating 4 kilometers and 223 meters of lovely embankments lined with mighty old trees. This network of defense is the legacy of the Renaissance period and allows you to stroll around the entire city through a series of well-maintained promenades. So, if you are wondering what to do in Lucca for a day, keep the old walls in mind. It’s a lovely way to take in the calm atmosphere of this medieval town without the bustle of the crowds. Let's go
Lucca’s Duomo di San Martino is a stunning marble cathedral with imposing Romanesque sculptures decorating the facade and the legendary crucifix (Volto Santo) mystifying its interior. Pope Alexander II, former bishop of Lucca, consecrated the cathedral in 1070. It’s slightly tucked away at the east end of the Piazza San Martino. The reason for building the imposing cathedral was the Volto Santo (Holy Face of Lucca) mentioned above, a wooden crucifix allegedly carved by biblical figure Nicodemus who helped Joseph of Arimathea take Christ's body down from the cross. Let's go