Lucca is Tuscany’s hidden gem.
It is the gateway to the mountains and the beach, the home of fascinating history, dozens of medieval, basilica-style churches, a vibrant arts culture and culinary scene and the perfect place to bike or walk around…
Tuscany’s Hidden Gem
It’s no secret that Italy is a very special place, and Tuscany is home to many of its treasures. While most visitors head straight to the wine region of Chianti, the lesser-known medieval city of Lucca’s star is on the rise – and fast. It’s even been called the most overlooked town in Tuscany – and we think that applies to the dozens of gorgeous little towns around it too.
Located just over an hour away from the Tuscan capital Florence, Lucca is truly captivating. It is home to a strong and vibrant culinary scene, including Michelin-starred restaurants L’imbuto and All’Olivo, as well as fabulous aperitivo and pizza, of course! You can find excellent shopping and a wealth of music and cultural events all year-round too. But perhaps the most special and famous feature of Lucca is its ancient walls, which contain the heart of the city.
While the city was founded by the Romans who built the first iteration of these walls, they have since been rebuilt two more times: during the medieval era and again between the 16th and 17th centuries. The construction of the current walls began around 1500 and took more than 130 years to complete.
The Ancient Walls
The ancient walls, or le mura, are a wonderful place to kick off a few days in town, with either a leisurely walk or a few gentle laps on a bike (which you can hire right in the city centre). Once they were no longer required from a military or defence perspective, Duchess Maria Luisa, then Duchess of Lucca, organised the re-purposing of the walls for public use.
A 4km round circuit, the leafy path will give you a view from high that will help you understand the layout of the city at a glance. If you’re up for a climb, the Torre Guinigi, in the heart of the centre, also gives a wonderful view over the city, and if you’re looking for a more leisurely way to start your visit, the breathtaking Chiesa di San Michele in Foro with its angel perched on high, or even a coffee in the Piazza Anfiteatro are a good start.
Lucca’s most famous event is the annual summer festival, which draws thousands of people into town. In line with the rest of Italy, the busiest periods are June and July, as well as August, although visitors in this period should know that it’s the traditional holiday month for Italians, so many shops are closed for part or all of the month.
Lucca has a very special character, due in part to its history of independence, its tradition of artisans working right in the city, and of course the walls. We look forward to showing you a piece of our home!
Getting to Lucca
Tuscany is well served by two airports, Pisa and Florence but for getting to Lucca, Pisa is the most convenient and a popular destination for many low cost airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair. Car hire from Pisa Airport is also availble. Train and bus links through both Pisa and Florence also allow easy access to Lucca.
The easiest way to get around town is either on foot or bike. Traffic in the centre is limited to residents, and even then, most people choose to ride bikes, because of the city’s compact and easily navigable nature.
