Lucca is a city in Tuscany, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca with 86,000 inhabitants. Lucca was founded by the Etruscans and became a Roman colony in 180 BC.

In the 10th and 11th centuries Lucca was the capital of the feudal margraviate of Tuscany, more or less independent but owing nominal allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor.

A free since 1162, Lucca reached its moment of greatest splendor between the 13th and 14th centuries, thanks to the right to coin money, intense mercantile and banking activity and above all the production and sale of that most precious of all fabrics, silk, which it exported all over the world.

Lucca is known as "the city of a hundred churches"; during the period of the Longobards many citizens converted to Catholicism and built churches in the Romanesque style to celebrate their new faith, many of which have remained fully intact today.

Lucca was the largest Italian city state with a republican constitution to remain an independent republic over the centuries. In 1805 Lucca was taken over by Napoleon, who put his sister Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi in charge as Princess of Lucca. After 1815 it became a Bourbon-Parma duchy, then part of Tuscany in 1847 and finally part of the Italian State.

The city centre, closed to traffic, as is true of many other Tuscan cities, is surrounded by its original red brick wall built during the Renaissance. Now one of the major attractions of the city, it is 12 meters high end extends for 4 kilometers, forming an imposing defensive structure: moat, powder depots, refuges, ample underground passages and 10 flying bulwarks on top of which are small guard huts.

Once it no longer had any military significance, the wall was transformed into a stupendous public path which is still used today by walkers or bicycle riders and represents one of the favorite daily pastimes of local residents. There are also some excellent views of the countryside from various vantage points.

Places to visit in Lucca

Orto Botanico Comunale

The City Botanical Gardens, designed by Elisa Baciocchi, and created by Maria Luisa di Borbone for the Regia Universita of Lucca. More than 700 types of local and exotic plant species in fashion during the romantic 19th Century grow in this interesting garden which extends for more than 2 kilometers. There is also a school and an old library which houses some special herb plants and examples of rare scientific experiments.

Duomo di San Martino

St. Martin Cathedral, located in the square of the same name, with its Gothic interior and Romanesque facade, was built in 1204 by Guidetto da Como, a master builder from Lombardy. It has three orders of loggias, resting on small columns, richly decorated with inlaid and raised carvings in different colored marbles. The far portico, asymmetrical due to the weight of an older bell tower leaning upon it, is covered with beautiful bas relief’s, partly attributed to Nicola Pisano. The interior with three naves is airy and elegant and seems taller due to its fine three-mullioned windows and fake women’s gallery. There are many works of art in the side chapels including paintings by Ghirlandaio and Tintoretto.

Chiesa di San Michele in Foro

St. Michael’s Church, stands out impressively in the square of the same name which was previously the Roman marketplace and contains many medieval and Renaissance buildings. The beautiful church in white limestone, rebuilt over remains of the 8th century primitive church, is a typical example of the architecture of Pisa and Lucca.

Casa di Puccini

The 15th century house in which Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was born contains portraits of the great composer, costume designs for his operas and the piano he used when composing his last opera, Turandot. Left unfinished at his death, it was completed by Franco Alfano and first performed two years later at La Scala, Milan.

Palazzo Mansi

Mansi Palace is a delightful, aristocratic villa built during the 18th Century which has maintained its original decorations including some magnificent frescos and much of the original furnishings.

Pinacoteca Nazionale

National Art Gallery, is located in Mansi Palace in the main reception rooms and includes works by Tuscan master painters including Andrea del Sarto.

Via Fillungo

Via Fillungo is the smart shopping street of Lucca and where the locals go to walk and be perceived. A series of palaces and historic homes dating from the 15th and 16th centuries follow one another along the street.

S. Frediano

S. Frediano is a church which oddly faces east so that it won’t be suffocated by the wall. Built in the 12th century the facade is decorated with a mosaic dating from the 13th century. The austerity of the three interior naves enhances the masterpieces which they enclose: a holy water font from the 12th century decorated with bas relief and the altar frontal sculpted out of one single piece of stone by Jacopo della Quercia.

Piazza Anfiteatro

Piazza Anfiteatro is an unusual square with an elliptical shape built on what was originally a Roman amphitheatre. Planted for use as an orchard in 1830 it became a market area and today is another open air meeting place for local residents and provides a suggestive setting for concerts and plays.

Palazzo dei Guinigi

This house was once owned by the powerful Guinigi family, rulers of the city in the 15th century. They kept Florence at bay, so Lucca was never conquered by the Medici, remaining independent until the late 1700s. The red brick palazzo, built in the late 14th century, has late-Gothic windows. The striking 41 meters defensive tower alongside, the Torre del Guinigi, has a small roof garden, hence the ilex trees sprouting incongruously at the top.

Ramparts

Ramparts a promenade runs along the top of the city walls, built in 1504-1645. Maria Luisa di Borbone made the ramparts into a public park in the early 19th century, with a double avenue of trees. It makes a delightful walk with fine views of Lucca. There are occasional guided tours of the chambers and passages inside one of the bastions.

For more information visit

• Comune Lucca