What to do in Lucca in a day?

Situated on a plain along the left bank of the Serchio river, Lucca is the Italian medieval city par excellence.

 

 

With its historic center full of monuments, palaces and churches, the important cultural events that take place there every year, and its exquisite gastronomic tradition, Lucca is a very popular destination.

Welcome to Lucca, a wonderful city waiting to be discovered!

To create this guide I got help from Arianna, a friend of mine originally from Lucca who told me many interesting anecdotes and legends about this beautiful city that I decided to share with you during this walking tour!😉

The route I propose to you today is approximately 2 kilometers long and will take us approximately 3 hours to complete (feel free to take a break if you need it, no rush!). We will start from “Porta San Pietro” on the city walls (click here to get there) until we reach the Basilica of San Frediano.

PS: if you need any support, feel free to text me on my WhatsApp by clicking here!

And now… let’s start our tour! 

The tour!

Map Preview & How to use it

Let me show you the preview of our route! By scrolling the guide you will find buttons to click that will always take you to the next attraction/monument (so this map is just to give you an idea about the itinerary, no need to use it now🤓)!

The yellow markers are the monuments and attractions we will see.

The brown markers are some extras not included in our tour but which you can visit if you have time left.

The red indicators, on the other hand, are some of my favorite restaurants (I tell you more about them at the end)!

I would say we are ready to get started!

Introduction & History of the city

Lucca is one of the most fascinating and loved cities of art in Tuscany. With a population of 88,000 inhabitants it is truly an unmissable destination in this region.

 

 

Known as the “City of 100 churches” for its extraordinary quantity of places of worship, it is the only Tuscan city-state to have maintained its independence until 1847.

Thanks to these particular historical circumstances, Lucca has become a magnificent fortified island, which contains a priceless artistic and architectural heritage within its walls.

Lucca is the Tuscan city that has best preserved its medieval structure: within its walls you can admire churches, towers, cloisters and stone buildings, all characterized by traditional red terracotta roofs.

I’ll tell you a little bit of history of this city!

The history of Florence begins with its foundation as a Roman colony in 59 BC, under the name of Florentia. Thanks to its location along the Arno River and important trade routes, the city soon developed as a commercial center in the Roman Empire.

After a period of decline following the fall of the Empire, Florence was reborn in the Middle Ages, becoming one of the richest and most powerful cities in Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, it established itself as an independent republic, with a prosperous economy based on the wool trade and its flourishing bankers.

Florence’s true heyday began in the 14th century, when the city fell under the influence of the Medici family, a powerful dynasty of bankers.

Under the leadership of Cosimo de’ Medici and, later, Lorenzo the Magnificent, Florence became the birthplace of the Renaissance. This period saw an explosion of humanistic thought and artistic creativity, with figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, and Dante Alighieri helping to make Florence a world-class cultural center. Works commissioned by the Medici and other noble families, such as masterpieces in the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Pitti Palace, marked an era of unprecedented artistic excellence.

In the 16th century, Florence became the center of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, continuing under the control of the Medici until their extinction in the 18th century, when power passed to the Habsburg-Lorraine. Florence continued to prosper during the early modern period and in the 19th century played an important role in Italian unification, even becoming the capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1871.

Despite the damage suffered during the Second World War and the flood of 1966, Florence has managed to keep its immense cultural heritage intact.

And now we can start our walking tour! If you still need to get to “Porta San Pietro” click on this button! If you are already here, just scroll down a littel bit! 

SULLE MURA 🇮🇹 !

A. Walls of Lucca

Our tour begins from one of the symbols of the city: the walls. We will enter the southern part, Porta San Pietro, the most imposing entrance to the Renaissance walls. This door was built on the road leading to Pisa in 1566.

 

 

The Gate was the only access to the city allowed to foreigners who were forced to leave their weapons other than the sword and half-sword. The weapons were then returned upon leaving the city.

In 1500, Lucca began the construction of new walls to improve its defenses, which were obsolete compared to the warfare techniques of the time. This project, which lasted over a century, not only reflected the autonomy and prestige of the city, but also served to protect the historic center during a flood in 1812, when the Serchio river overflowed.

The works officially began in 1544 and the project was carried out by several Flemish architects including Alessandro Farnese. The project included bulwarks, curtain walls and monumental gates which were completed in 1650.

 

 

Initially used for defense and ammunition storage, the walls of Lucca lost their military function in the nineteenth century and were converted into an urban park thanks to the intervention of Maria Luisa di Borbone, daughter of Ferdinand I of Bourbon, king of the Two Sicilies.

The route through the greenery of the walls is 4 km long and allows you to see the spectacular landscapes of the city. Personally, I invite you to leave some space for a relaxing walk along the walls of Lucca at the end of the tour!

Under the city walls there are underground passages that were originally part of the defensive and support structures of the medieval and Renaissance walls.

 

 

Some are simple crossings, but others are real underground paths that can still be visited today.

There are several guided tours that usually last 1h 30-2 h that will allow you to discover the beauty of the Lucca Underground.
Here is a link to one of the guided tours of Lucca’s undergrounds.

Let’s continue our journey and move to Piazza Napoleone!

Andiamo 🇮🇹 !

Our tour has come to an end but there still remains an important topic to address: the typical dishes of the city!

Typical dishes and where to eat them

I believe that visiting a city without trying its typical dishes is a missed opportunity! This is why together with Arianna I want to talk to you about the most famous dishes in the city and our favorite restaurants!

An icon of Florentine cuisine, the Florentine steak is unmistakable for its imposing size.

This cut of meat, obtained from the loin of the Chianina beef, usually weighs over a kilo (between 1.3 and 1.7 kg), with a price per kilo that varies between 40 and 60 euros. It is traditionally served rare, with a brief cooking of 3-4 minutes per side. Be careful to ask for it well done: the Florentines are tied to tradition and prefer the steak to be enjoyed as their culinary history dictates, strictly rare. Don’t be impressed by the size and cooking: it is truly delicious!

An icon of Florentine cuisine, the Florentine steak is unmistakable for its imposing size.

This cut of meat, obtained from the loin of the Chianina beef, usually weighs over a kilo (between 1.3 and 1.7 kg), with a price per kilo that varies between 40 and 60 euros. It is traditionally served rare, with a brief cooking of 3-4 minutes per side. Be careful to ask for it well done: the Florentines are tied to tradition and prefer the steak to be enjoyed as their culinary history dictates, strictly rare. Don’t be impressed by the size and cooking: it is truly delicious!

An icon of Florentine cuisine, the Florentine steak is unmistakable for its imposing size.

This cut of meat, obtained from the loin of the Chianina beef, usually weighs over a kilo (between 1.3 and 1.7 kg), with a price per kilo that varies between 40 and 60 euros. It is traditionally served rare, with a brief cooking of 3-4 minutes per side. Be careful to ask for it well done: the Florentines are tied to tradition and prefer the steak to be enjoyed as their culinary history dictates, strictly rare. Don’t be impressed by the size and cooking: it is truly delicious!

Where to eat all these delicacies?

The range of restaurants and venues is truly incredible in Lucca. I tested several places and these are my favorites:

Gigliola: A current restaurant with high quality products! The menu is super inclusive and experimental! Click here to get there! 

St. Anthony’s Hole: Beautiful restaurant located nen historic center, in the vicinity of St. Michael’s Square where the food is impeccable and there is a great attention and research in the ingredients. Click here to get there!

Canuleia Restaurant: Excellent restaurant near the famous oval square with typical dishes. Click here to get there! 

Bottega Dell’ Oste: Excellent restaurant serving traditional Lucchese dishes! Click here to get there! 

La Tana del Boia: Very quaint little tavern overlooking the beautiful St. Michael’s Square! Click here to get there! 

L’isola Che Non C’era: Typical trattoria with excellent homemade pasta! Click here to get there! 

Trattoria Pizzeria Da Gherardo Lucca: Restaurant with excellent pizza! Click here to get there! 

Paniko Ice Cream Shop: Excellent ice cream shop near the walls of Lucca! Click here to get there! 

The end?

Unfortunately, we have finished our tour! However, there are several things around Lucca that you could visit: I’ll leave some tips below!

Devil’s Bridge

The Devil’s Bridge, also known as the Maddalena Bridge, is an imposing medieval structure located near Borgo a Mozzano, in the province of Lucca. Built around the 11th century, the bridge is famous for its characteristic asymmetric profile and for the legend that surrounds it, which says that the devil himself contributed to its construction. This bridge, with its slender central arch, is considered one of the masterpieces of medieval engineering and an icon of the Tuscan region.

Submerged village of factories

The Submerged Village of Fabbriche di Careggine is an ancient medieval village located in the province of Lucca, in the Apuan Alps. Founded in the 13th century, the village was submerged in the 1940s with the creation of the hydroelectric dam on the Edron river, which formed the artificial lake of Vagli. The village occasionally resurfaces when the lake is emptied for maintenance, revealing its stone houses, church and other buildings, attracting curious and nostalgic visitors.

Lake Tower

Torre del Lago, officially Torre del Lago Puccini, is a picturesque hamlet located between Lake Massaciuccoli and the Tyrrhenian Sea, a few kilometers from Lucca. This quiet village is famous for being the favorite place of the famous composer Giacomo Puccini, who lived there and composed some of his most famous works. Puccini’s villa, overlooking the lake, is today a museum dedicated to his life and music. Every summer, Torre del Lago hosts the prestigious Puccini Festival, an event that attracts opera enthusiasts from all over the world.

Nottolini aqueduct

The Nottolini Aqueduct is an impressive hydraulic engineering work located near Lucca, built between 1823 and 1851 to supply drinking water to the city. Designed by architect Lorenzo Nottolini, the aqueduct stands out for its long row of stone arches, which extend for approximately 3 kilometers from the source of Guamo to the gates of Lucca. This aqueduct not only represents an important historical infrastructure, but is also a fascinating example of neoclassical architecture, harmoniously inserted into the Tuscan landscape.

Royal Villa of Lucca

The Villa Reale of Lucca is an elegant building located near the city of Lucca, precisely in Marlia. Built in the 17th century and expanded in the 19th century, the villa is known for its large and refined Italian gardens, which include fountains, sculptures and expansive lawns. Originally belonging to the Bourbon family, who ruled Lucca as a duchy, the villa was a summer residence of considerable importance. Today, the Villa Reale is a fascinating location for sightseeing and cultural events, offering a glimpse into the aristocratic lifestyle and scenic beauty of Tuscany.

Pisa

Pisa, located in the Tuscany region of Italy, is a city famous for its extraordinary architecture and its historic university. Famous throughout the world for the Leaning Tower, a medieval bell tower known for its characteristic tilt, Pisa is also home to iconic monuments such as the Duomo and the Baptistery, all part of the magnificent Campo dei Miracoli, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . In addition to its architecture, Pisa boasts a lively cultural life and an important academic tradition thanks to the University of Pisa, one of the oldest in Europe.

Potholes of the Giants

The Marmitte dei Giganti are a fascinating natural phenomenon located in the Garfagnana, near Lucca. These impressive deep, round holes were formed by water erosion carving out the granite over millennia. The potholes, which are located along the Serchio river, offer a unique geological spectacle and are surrounded by a suggestive mountain landscape. They are a major attraction for geology enthusiasts and those who love exploring nature, also offering opportunities for walking and hiking.

Isola Santa

Isola Santa is a charming village located in the Garfagnana, a mountainous valley in the province of Lucca, Tuscany. This picturesque village, located on the banks of the artificial lake created by the damming of the Turrite River, is known for its enchanting mountain scenery and well-preserved stone houses. Originally a medieval settlement, Isola Santa is today a peaceful place that offers an evocative atmosphere and an excellent base for excursions and walks in the surrounding nature. The beauty of the village and its natural environment make it an ideal destination for nature and history lovers.

All good things must come to an end😬!

First of all, if you enjoyed the tour will be really important for me to have a review on these platforms (also on the platform where you booked, but these platforms that you find below are fundamental).

You can leave a review (no pressure on you for this⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) by clicking on these beautiful buttons!

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I know that it takes time (actually 4 seconds 😬) but for me this part is really important in order to continue this activity 🥰!

If, on the other hand, you had problems, have suggestions on how to improve it, or want to contact me, feel free to write me on WhatsApp by clicking here!

Are you going to visit other cities?

I have prepared different digital guides to enable you to other cities as well. All guides were written in collaboration with locals so that the most authentic stories and advice could be included!

In these digital guides you will find:

  • Itinerary with the highlights of the city (connected with google maps) 📍
  • Historical info, curiosities and funny facts 🤓
  • FOOD TIPS from locals ! Every city has it’s own typical dishes so it’s super important to know about them 😬 Also, thanks to my local friends, you will discover real local restaurants to try them 😋!

I already prepared a special discount for you, you’ll find everything by clicking here!

Again, if need some support or need any extra info, feel free to write me on WhatsApp by clicking here!

Greetings from your Walking Cap!

Matteo