Lucca

Roman Amphitheatre

City in the medieval plot of which monuments are woven witnesses of all the historical periods crossed by Lucca, starting from the Roman Amphitheater – today Piazza dell’Anfiteatro – circular and suggestive scenery, born on the ruins of the ancient steps by the architect Lorenzo Nottolini. 

Churches of Lucca

Proceeding through the centuries and styles we reach the Middle Ages and what can be considered the real treasure of Lucca, not by chance nicknamed “city of 100 churches”, or its incredible collection of places of worship, starting from the Cathedral of San Martino, on the whose facade in Romanesque-Pisan style is inlaid with mysterious and dark symbols, like a beautiful labyrinth. Also in the Cathedral there are the Holy Face and the splendid tomb of Ilaria del Carretto sculpted by Jacopo della Quercia. Walking through the streets of the city you will then discover the beautiful and clean facade of the Basilica of San Frediano, and again the square and the splendid church of San Michele, on the capitals of whose Romanesque façade – restored in the 1800s – you can have fun trying to identify portraits of Risorgimento heroes such as Garibaldi.

Palazzo Ducale

But walking through Lucca, the discoveries are certainly not limited to the churches, at the top of a tower (that of the Guinigi) you will be surprised to see a garden with lots of trees, it is open: you can climb it. Getting lost is (impossible but) beautiful in the narrow Via Fillungo, where the most chic shops in the city are located; as well as for the rooms of the Palazzo Ducale in Piazza Napoleone (one of the last testimonies of the Principality of Lucca) or, venturing outside the walls, it will be nice to wander through the beautiful neighbourhood of liberty villas that surround part of the city centre.

Festivals in Lucca

Perhaps due to the mediaeval historical centre full of styles and almost intact, Lucca has become (also) a real fantasy scenario. In fact, Lucca Comics & Games, a festival that makes the ancient walls and narrow streets a colourful carnival out of season, takes place every October in the streets of the city, thanks to what is a veritable invasion of aliens, mutants, characters of the cartoons, medieval knights and everything a cosplayer can think of to impersonate.

In recent years, Lucca has become an important point of reference for pop music, thanks to the Lucca Summer Festival where some of the most famous international artists perform in the city. Big names such as Lionel Richie, Eric Clapton, The Eagles, David Bowie and Alanis Morrissette are just some of the acts who have braced the stage at Lucca Summer Festival.