Lucca, known as a "Città d'arte", is a town in northern Italy and if you’ve been lucky enough to visit it, you’ll know it’s a place that has a special, unique feeling of magic that you can’t find anywhere else. Being surrounded by walls that seem to tower over the town, one gets the feeling of being cut off from the chaos and hustle and bustle of the outside world in this place rife with historical architecture and the Italian Dolce Vita. As an individual with family born and raised there, I have been able to visit it year after year, and the cultural richness never ceases to amaze me.
The walls
One of the distinguishing characteristics of Lucca is its beautiful walls, dating back to the Renaissance era. Despite the expansion and urbanisation of the town, the obstinate walls remain intact, a cultural reminder of the internecine strife that embodied the country in the past. The walls were built as a defensive rampart against rival provinces; however, given their loss of military importance, they now stand as a beautiful walkway for the inhabitants of the city or any tourists who wish to witness this panoramic view of the fantastic city. One can do a full tour of the town centre and see the beauty of the city from above and the attractive simplicity of the Italian way of life; needless to say, you won’t be disappointed. Alternatively, looking away from the quaint city centre, you can see for miles the rest of Lucca, its suburbs, and the grandiose mountains which, too, surround the area and are no less dazzling and intoxicating.
Things to do in Lucca
While Lucca’s mere beauty could easily suffice to satisfy the average tourist, it also offers a plenitude of activities and things to see. Popular are the numerous public squares, such as the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro (the site of an ancient Roman amphitheatre!), Piazzale Verdi, Piazza Napoleone and Piazza San Michele which are situated within the walls, full of restaurants and bars in which one can indulge in the delicate gastronomy of Italian cuisine and revel in the busy nightlife. What’s more, there is no shortage of museums and churches which are open to visitation for a small fee, and it’s well worth it. There is the famous National Museum of Villa Guinigi, the Museum of Villa Mansi, the Museo della Cattedrale and more.
If you’re a music lover and party fanatic then make sure you don’t miss the famous Lucca Summer Festival, which sees performances by artists such as Eric Clapton, Placebo, Massive Attack, Roger Waters, Tracy Chapman and Santana at the Piazza Napoleone. However, Lucca doesn’t stop there. It tailors to all interests! If you’re a cinephile, then enjoy the Lucca Film Festival and converse with fellow Italians about your shared love of cinema.
If the walls aren’t enough for you, go higher and climb the magnificent Torre delle Ore which, once upon a time, served as both a defensive fortification and a clock tower during its 700 year history. Similar to the walls, as time progressed, the need for defense lessened and the tower was turned into a horological clock tower instead. Today it is possible to climb a series of stairs to reach the top of the tower for unrivalled views of the city of Lucca. From here you can see the many other towers within the city and such landmarks as the Cathedral and Basilica of San Frediano.
In short, there is a wealth of things to do in Lucca and it is not one to miss. No one leaves Lucca the same person they were when they came in; the history, the culture, the plethora of artwork and the beautiful architecture will give you a perspective of life that makes you jealous you don’t get to spend every second in this gorgeous corner of the world.
- Sam Polizzi
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