Lucca in 1 Day: all you need to know

Lucca is pure charm. It is known as the "city of a hundred towers and a hundred churches", as a reminder of its medieval past. And from that past there are still magnificent buildings, such as the wall that surrounds the entire historic centre.

Strolling through its streets will take you back in time as you look up to admire one of its high towers or contemplate the beauty of its oval square. But there are many more things to see and do in Lucca and one day is enough to discover them all. Here is a brief itinerary.

Lucca is a completely walled city. But it is not only special because of this, but also because this medieval wall has survived almost intact to the present day. It has a perimeter of more than four kilometres and at some points it is up to twelve metres high.

If you want to see a beautiful view of the city, I recommend you take a look at one of its viewpoints. But if you want to take home a great souvenir of Lucca, I recommend you walk at least one section. What centuries ago was only a defensive element has been embellished and landscaped to become a charming promenade.

To enter the historic centre of Lucca you will have to go through one of the gates in the city walls. The start of the tour of the city that I am about to suggest begins at Porta San Pietro, perhaps the most famous for its size and beauty.

Although the city walls date back to the 12th century, this gate is much later. The reason is that for several centuries the defensive enclosure underwent modifications and enlargements. This means that if you decide to walk around it in its entirety, you will be able to appreciate elements from different periods. To make sure you don't miss anything, a guided tour, on foot, by bike or even by horse-drawn carriage, is ideal.

Just a stone's throw from the city walls is Lucca's Duomo, another of the city's great treasures. It is not as well known as other cathedrals in Tuscany, but it has its charm. Take a look at its white and green marble façade and you will surely see why it is special.

I will give you some clues; firstly, the columns that decorate the upper galleries, which are truly marvellous; secondly, the asymmetry of the façade. Incidentally, this symmetry has an explanation: the temple was built after the tower and had to adapt to the space available at the time.

Inside, you can admire some very interesting works of art. There are two very special ones: the Volto Santo, a wooden crucifix which, according to legend, is the work of one of the men who buried Jesus; and the funeral monument of Ilaria del Carretto, wife of an ancient lord of Lucca.

Climb the Duomo's bell tower

I'm sure you're wondering. Yes, you can climb to the top of the bell tower. It is 60 metres high, making it the highest tower in the city. From it you will have great views of Lucca and the surrounding area, but you will have to climb a little over 200 steps.

Useful information

• Opening hours: the cathedral, the campanile and the cathedral museum generally open at 10:00. Closing time varies according to the day and the site. It is therefore advisable to check the opening times before visiting.
• Prices: there are individual tickets for the cathedral, tower and museum which cost around 4 euros each. However, my advice is to buy the combined ticket which gives access to all areas of the cathedral. The general price is around 10 euros, but there are reduced rates for families, students and pilgrims.

Following Via Duomo, you'll soon come to Lucca's largest square and one of the liveliest places in the city: Piazza Napoleone. In fine weather all kinds of cultural events are held here and you can always rest and recharge your batteries on one of its terraces.

On one side of the square you will see the imposing Palazzo Ducale, which has been and still is the centre of power in Lucca. With eight centuries of history, it hides some remarkable monumental rooms.

The palace also houses the Museum of the Risorgimento. If you like history, this is a good place to learn a little more about the Italian Unification.

To finish the visit to the square, a curiosity related to its name. It was built during the Napoleonic domination. In fact, the Palazzo Ducale was the residence of one of Napoleon's sisters, and there was even a project to place a statue of the emperor that never materialised.

Up Via Veneto and just 5 minutes from Piazza Napoleone is a must-see if you love opera: the Puccini House-Museum. The author of such famous works as La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly was born in this city and his figure is remembered in many of its corners.

In this museum you can see everything from old photographs to manuscripts and countless documents, as well as belongings and objects that belonged to the composer. This way you'll get to know not only his artistic side, but also his more human side.

Even if you don't have time to visit the museum, stop by the square where it is located. You can take a souvenir photo next to the statue of the composer. And if you are not in a hurry and feel like doing something different, there are musical tours of Lucca. They will take you to some of the places that inspired Puccini.

Useful information

• Opening hours: The Puccini House Museum opens at 10:00 from Monday to Sunday. Closing time varies between 14:00 and 18:00, depending on the day and the season.
• Prices: Admission is about 9 euros. Under 18s, over 65s and students pay around 7 euros, while children under 10 are free.

Just follow Via do Poggio a few metres from the Casa-Museo Piccini to reach the ancient Roman Forum. Above it stands one of the most beautiful churches in Tuscany: San Michele in Foro. A Romanesque jewel that will surprise you with the details of its façade, its columns, its rose windows and its arches. And, at the top, you will see a four-metre-high statue of St. Michael.

When you stand in front of the church, remember that it is an 11th-century construction. You will see it better inside, which is simpler than the façade. Entrance is free. And, while you are in Piazza San Michele, take a look at the buildings that surround it. These include the Palazzo Gigli and the Renaissance Palazzo Pretorio.

If you are hungry at this point in your visit, there are a number of restaurants and osterias in and around Piazza San Michele. In some you can stop for a quiet stop to sample the delights of Tuscan cuisine. In others you will be able to have a quick bite to eat so as not to waste time during your visit.

If you decide to relax and try some typical dishes, I recommend you start with panzanella, a kind of bread salad. If you fancy soups, try garmugia, frantoiana or ribollita soup. Vegetables are the main ingredient in all of them. And, for the main course, veal Florentine style or ravioli stuffed with pork.

If you prefer something quick, there are establishments where you can have some fantastic paninis. Strabuono or Da Ciacco are two of the best known.

But if you really want to get to know Lucca's gastronomy, you can take part in a cooking class at the home of a local in Lucca. You'll need to set aside some time from your visit to the city, but you'll enjoy every second of it.

Lucca has several exceptional viewpoints, and this tower behind the church of San Michele in Foro is one of them. It is a 50-metre high medieval construction from which you can enjoy incredible views of the city.

Of course, to reach the top of the Torre delle Ore or Clock Tower**, you will have to climb 200 steps**. But the effort is worth it for the views and because it is an original wooden staircase.

But there is even more, because you have the chance to see the clock mechanism that gives it its name. It is a Swiss piece that was installed in the tower in 1754. Its mechanism is manual and works as it did on the very first day.

By the way, the Torre delle Ore is on Via Fillungo, perhaps the liveliest street in Lucca. The reason is that it is full of shops and restaurants. If you follow its route (it is pedestrianised) you will reach the Amphitheatre square.

Useful information

• Opening hours: the Torre delle Ore can only be visited between March and October. It opens at 9.30 am, while the closing time varies between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm, depending on the month.
• Prices: around 4 euros. Children aged 6-14, students and over 65s pay around 3 euros.
• Advantages: there is a combined ticket which allows access to both the Torre delle Ore and the Botanical Gardens. It costs around 9 euros for the general rate and around 6 euros for the reduced rate.

Just 300 metres from the Torre delle Ore, following Via Sant'Andrea, the Torre Gunigi is one of the symbols of Lucca, and not because it is the tallest, but because it is the most unique. The reason? Because it has a small garden with trees at the top! It is, therefore, one of the places in Lucca that you should not miss.

The views from the lookout point of this medieval tower are marvellous, although its height (44 metres) does not reach that of other symbolic towers in Lucca. In its favour is that its location is much more central, as well as its unique garden full of holm oaks.

Therefore, if you have to choose between the best viewpoints in Lucca, my advice is to climb to the top of this tower. From it you will have a perfect view of the cathedral, the Amphitheatre square, San Michele in Foro and San Frediano.

Useful information

• Opening hours: The Guinigi Tower opens at 9.30am and the closing time varies between 4.30pm and 7.30pm, depending on the month.
• Prices: about 5 euros. Children under 6 are free. There is a combined ticket for about 12 euros which gives access to the Guinigi Tower, the Torre delle Ore and the Botanical Gardens.

You only have to walk 500 metres from the Gunigi tower, following Via delle Chiavi D'Oro and Via Canuleia, to reach this picturesque square. It is the real heart of Lucca. It is accessed through four arches. Once inside, the first thing that will surprise you is its oval shape. There is an explanation for this: it stands on an ancient Roman amphitheatre, hence its name.

But there are many more aspects of the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro that will surprise you, for example, the buildings that give it its shape. You will see that their façades have different shapes and sizes and are painted in different shades of yellow. Green shutters and doors in the shape of arches and windows give it a unique charm.

This is where the market used to be. Today it is the perfect place to take a break on one of its terraces. In fact, some of Lucca's best restaurants can be found in and around the square itself.

Very close to the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro is the Basilica Minore di San Frediano. It is one of the oldest churches in Lucca. If it is worth a visit, it is to admire the magnificent Byzantine-style mosaic that adorns its façade.

Its interior is rather more austere. However, it does contain some treasures, such as a beautifully decorated baptismal font and the sarcophagus of Saint Zita, patron saint of the city. It is, therefore, one of the most beloved temples by the inhabitants of Lucca.

Useful information

• Opening hours: The Basilica Minore di San Frediano can be visited every day from 9.30am to 5pm, except on Saturdays, when it closes half an hour later.
• Prices: about 3 euros. Children up to 11 years old are free.

The visit to Lucca ends a stone's throw from the basilica, in the Pfanner Palace, one of the most famous and beautiful palaces in Lucca. It was built in the 17th century and walking through its rooms is almost like stepping back to the city's heyday. But if there is something special about it, it is its garden, a real oasis in the heart of the historic centre.

It is an Italian-style garden, adorned with hedges, statues and small fountains. It is so photogenic that scenes from films and series have been filmed there. But above all, it is a perfect counterpoint to everything you have seen inside the historic heart of Lucca.

Useful information

• Opening hours: Palazzo Pfanner is open from April to November from 10:00 to 18:00.
• Prices: around 6.50 euros for a visit to the palace and gardens or around 4.50 euros if you only want to visit one of the two areas.

• Lucca is a city that can be visited in one day without great difficulty. But, if you know how to manage your time well, you can still include other attractions such as the botanical garden or the National Museum of the Palazzo Mansi.
• If the weather is good, my advice is Lucca Bike Rental and walk around the city wall. Afterwards, if you feel like it , you can have a picnic. It's a great plan, for example, for the afternoon. This way you can admire a spectacular sunset.
• It is highly recommended that you wear comfortable clothes and, above all, comfortable shoes. The reason is that some of Lucca's streets are paved with cobblestones.
• To climb any of the towers that remain open to the public, you will not only need good shoes, but you should also be in good shape. Not only because of the steps you will have to climb, but also because they are not very comfortable. In any case, it's well worth the effort.
• If you like the world of oenology, try the local wines, they are great. And if you still want more, at the end of the visit you can always take part in a wine tasting in a Lucca vineyard.

One last note: you can do the route I have suggested exactly the other way round. In that case, you should start the route at the Santa Maria gate in the walls of Lucca.