The ancient city of Lucca is famous for its
intact Renaissance city walls and 100 beautiful churches. A day trip will
not be enough to explore all Lucca’s treasure but it will allow you a glimpse
into one of Italy’s most famous cities past and present.
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| Lucca |
Walking within Lucca’s walls you can trace
its history from Roman times through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance
period and beyond. A strong rivalry of Florence and Pisa, Lucca was an
important independent state for many centuries.
A great way to start your day in Lucca is a
stroll on the ancient city walls that have been turned into a four-kilometre
panoramic pedestrian promenade with stunning views over Lucca and the Apuan
Alps’ peaks. From there head to the beautiful 11th century Il Duomo,
the main cathedral, that has many
treasures: 15th century Ilaria del
Carretto’s Tomb by Jacopo della Quercia, the Volto Santo di
Lucca, a wooden crucifix with an image of Christ that according to the legend
was carved by his disciple Nicodemus, works by such Renaissance masters as
Ghirlandaio, Tintoretto and Fra Bartolomeo. Along the main street, Il Fillungo,
you will find another majestic church, San Michele in Foro with its four-metre
statue of St. Michael the Archangel flanked by two angels on the top, elegant
loggias and sculptures.
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| Lucca - Piazza dell'Anfiteatro |
Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is another must-see
in Lucca. If you stand in the centre of the oval square you will see the ways
the building were built around the structure of the Roman amphitheatre that
stood here a long time ago.
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| Lucca - Torre Guinigi |
Climb up the steps on the top of the Torre
Guinigi, one of a few remaining in Lucca, to admire the views over the city in
the shade of the oaks that grow on the top of the tower. The Ducal Palace,
Piazza Napoleone, Palazzo Pfanner and Villa Garzoni – there are many sights,
picturesque squares and pretty streets in Lucca to explore. The ancient city
steals many people’s heart who want to go back again and again.
Photos
via Flickr by: Marc-Olivier Bergeron, Mathias Liebing, Alex Janssen.
