Lucca: History, Art and Ways Through the City

Lucca Between City Walls and History

Lucca combines a fortified urban landscape with art, music history and routes for different travel interests. The city walls of Lucca form a green ring more than four kilometres long around the historic city. The official Lucca itineraries include walks through the historic streets, bike tours along the park on the city walls and excursions into the countryside around the city. This allows you to alternate between an immersive urban experience and outdoor activity when planning your trip.

Cathedral, Towers and Music History

The Cattedrale di San Martino was founded by San Frediano in the 6th century. In the 8th century, the Cattedrale di San Martino had replaced the ancient church of SS. Giovanni e Reparata as Lucca's cathedral. The Campanile di San Martino is a 60-metre-high bell tower from the 12th century and the tallest tower in Lucca. The Torre delle Ore is 50 metres high.

The history of music is also linked to a specific place: Giacomo Puccini was born on 22 December 1858 in the house now used by the Puccini Museum – Casa natale. Puccini lived in this house during his childhood and early adolescence before moving to Milan in 1880 to continue his studies. Those who want to explore Lucca through biographies and specific locations will find a clear point of reference here.

Art and Green Spaces

The Torre Guinigi is 45 metres high and crowned by a hanging garden with holm oaks. The Museo Nazionale Villa Guinigi is located in a late Gothic villa built for Paolo Guinigi from 1413 onwards. It is the museum of the city of Lucca and its surrounding area and preserves art collections with works by local and foreign artists who worked in Lucca on ecclesiastical and secular commissions. Here, architecture, urban history and art come together in different forms.

Since 2022, the Orto Botanico di Lucca has held recognition as a museum of regional importance. It extends over two hectares at the south-eastern corner of the historic centre. The La Montagnola area is laid out with large rock formations and crossed by a spiral path. For a change from the built heritage to plant and landscape themes, this place offers a distinct focus. In addition, the Mercato contadino di Lucca takes place at the Foro Boario every Saturday and, during the summer months, also every Wednesday.

Via Francigena and Travel Planning

For centuries, Lucca was a strategic hub on the Via Francigena. The city offered travellers and pilgrims on the Via Francigena accommodation and hospitality, markets, hospices and places of worship. This historic connection adds another perspective to the experience of the city and complements Lucca's cultural, architectural and landscape themes.

These focal points can provide practical guidance when choosing your hotel: if your interests lie in the cathedral, towers, museums and Puccini, culture will be the priority. If you prefer to combine your trip with walks, bike tours, the countryside and a visit to the market, outdoor activity and local everyday life become more prominent. The various itineraries and locations help you determine your preferred daily rhythm in advance without reducing Lucca to just one type of travel experience.

Further Destinations for Orientation

San Concordio Di Moriano, San Lorenzo A Vaccoli, San Macario In Monte, Monsagrati, Montuolo, Nozzano Castello, Piazzano, Santa Maria Del Giudice, Monte San Quirico, Piaggione, San Pietro A Vico, Mastiano, Farneta, Pieve Di Brancoli, Aquilea, Arsina, Balbano, Cerasomma, Chiatri, Ciciana

For the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.