Lucca - main attractions and interesting places. Lucca - history, museums, churches, attractions: what, where and how? Lucca fortress walls
This wooden crucifix was carved from cedar of Lebanon by the evangelical Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin and a secret disciple of Christ. Together with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus removed the body of Jesus from the Cross. When Nicodemus decided to make an image of the crucified Christ, he encountered a difficulty: he could not reproduce the facial features of Jesus. however, the Face appeared miraculously thanks to angelic help, as stated in some versions of the legend. The crucifix is the main relic of Lucca.
I liked looking at the faces of the people accompanying the Holy Face; here each participant is carefully depicted and with his own individual character. True, for this I had to sacrifice a coin to turn on the lighting in the dark chapel.
The most shocking detail of the interior is Saint Zita. The mummified saint looks very creepy, just like... I'll quote the wiki
Zita was born in 1212 in the village of Monsagrati, near the city of Lucca, Tuscany. At the age of 12, she began serving in the Fatinelli family's house. For a long time, employers overworked the girl and often beat her. However, the continuous bad attitude towards Zita did not deprive her of inner peace and tranquility. Zita endured the bullying humbly, which, in the end, softened the attitude of her owners and colleagues [colleagues, Giuseppe! who wrote this article?] at work. Zita's constant piety and patience led the Fatinelli family to Christian conversion. Zita considered her work a calling from God and an element of personal repentance.
After her death, members of this family began to venerate Zita as a saint. In 1580, her body was exhumed and it turned out that the relics of Saint Zita were incorrupt. They were transferred to the Basilica of St. Fredian in the city of Lucca, where they are currently kept.
All three famous churches of Lucca impressed me, and the best part is that they are located within a five-minute walk from each other, so even if you are short on time, you can easily see them in one sitting.
40. Amphitheater Square
In ancient times, Lucca was a rich city and could afford an arena for gladiator fights for ten thousand spectators. Over time, the Lucca Amphitheater was destroyed and built over with buildings. Now his arena rests three meters deep under the square. But in the 19th century, the authorities decided to build a square on this site, repeating its shape as a Roman arena. This is how Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, picturesque and unusual with its oval shape, appeared.
I am, as always, beautiful, but since I was walking my friend home in the morning, I had to capture myself in a mirrored display case.
Lucca is a moderately touristic city, and I found the largest concentration of my fellow travelers in the Amphitheater Square. There is also the largest concentration of black brothers selling all sorts of nonsense.
On the outside of the Amphitheater square, in some places the remains of the upper tiers of the ancient arena have been preserved.
Lucca was simply a balm for my travel-weary soul. No, really, like, in addition to many interesting sights, there is a very pleasant atmosphere here, a comfortable and prosperous city.
31. Guinigi Tower
In the Middle Ages, a whole “forest” of high residential towers rose above Lucca. They were built to decorate the city and demonstrate the wealth of the owner of the household. Nowadays a similar landscape with towers can be seen, but in Lucca, in fact, only one tower survived. The tower was built by the Guinigi family, who actually ruled Lucca at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. She left behind a rich residence with a 45-meter tower. It all ended with the last descendant of the Guinigi family transferring the tower into the ownership of the city.
The Guinigi were inventive builders: they decorated their tower with a cap of living green trees. On the upper platform of the tower there are boxes with earth in which seven holm oaks grow. And from the top of the tower - just under the canopy of these very oak trees - there is an excellent view of the entire city.
I decided that I should definitely climb the Guinigi Tower, since the entrance there is quite inexpensive, three or four euros. While I was getting up, I looked into the windows of the houses of the Luccans (or as a resident of Lucca would correctly say?).
Clock tower and bell tower of San Frediano.
Amphitheater Square.
The clock tower is a little closer.
Those famous oak trees on the roof of the tower. This is the first time I've seen this!
Duomo of Lucca.
The patios, it's amazing how much green there is.
By and large, I had already visited the main attractions of Lucca, but I decided to walk around the city I liked a little more.
The first column in Italy dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. in honor of the adoption of the corresponding dogma in the 19th century. But in Lucca it appeared as much as 200 years earlier, when Immaculate Conception did not become an official dogma.
Another fountain with the purest drinking water. Just then I ran out of drink, I stood in line behind the seniors and also filled a bottle with local mineral water. The water tastes very good!
Gothic San Francesco 15th century.
This is not only a church, but also a monastery. I entered the open gate and walked a little around the monastery courtyards.
Rear facade of the Franciscan Monastery Church.
Behind the monastery there is a vast square. Not only were there no tourists here anymore, but the locals, it seemed, didn’t even get to this area.
I climbed out onto the city wall again, only this time in the part opposite from the station in the north of the city. Let me remind you that Lucca is one of four cities in Italy where the wall surrounding the city has completely survived. However, it doesn’t look much like a wall, more like a boulevard.
A traditional cat, without which it is impossible to make a normal report.
And I’ll emphasize once again that Lucca is charming and sweet even apart from tourist routes.
I haven't shown even half of the churches in Lucca. It’s simply unrealistic to get around them all in half a day. At every turn there are masterpieces like this 12th-century Chiesa di Santa Maria Forisportam. The church is interesting because there is a sundial inside, made on the principle of a camera obscura. A small hole is punched in the wall, and at noon a ray of sun points to a certain place on the floor of the church.
Memorial plaque in honor of Blessed Gemma Galgani.
In 1899, when she was 20 years old, Gemma developed stigmata. She stated that she began to receive private revelations from the Virgin Mary, her guardian angel and other saints. At the request of her spiritual father, Gemma prayed for an end to these visions and the stigmata disappeared.
Living in poverty, Gemma became widely known for her holy life in the city of Lucca, but she did not find support for her spiritual life, meeting with disdain and negative attitudes towards her visions among her family and the church hierarchy. In early 1903, Gemma fell ill with tuberculosis. During her short but fatal illness, she experienced various extraordinary mystical phenomena. At first Holy Week her health deteriorated rapidly and she died on Good Friday on April 11, 1903.
After Gemma's death, her spiritual father, who kept all her mystical experiences secret, wrote a detailed biography, publishing Gemma's personal diary and letters. Church authorities, after the publication of Gemma’s writings, recognized the authenticity of her mystical life.
My walk around Lucca was not too long and took about three hours. The city is very compact, so this time was enough for me to get around the main attractions. In general, Lucca great option for a half-day trip from Florence.
If you have never been here, you will be surprised. Lucca(Lucca) - one of the most famous and popular in the Stage on the Via Francigena, home to many foreigners, birthplace of Puccini's music. The city is surrounded by a 15th century wall. with a perimeter of 4 km. Inside - historical Center with narrow streets and picturesque squares lined with medieval houses and Renaissance palaces.
A sure testament to how this place ranks among America's favorite places. The city walls were built over the course of a century, from 1504. They are 4.2 km long and 30 m wide and are a kind of symbol of the city. From the times of the Roman Empire, a stone circle remains, on which houses now rise. They form Amphitheater Square(Piazza Anfiteatro), where they hold various events and just have a good time.
Secular and religious buildings mainly date back to the 11th and 12th centuries, when, thanks to merchants and bankers, the city entered the international economic level. There are a lot of buildings from the commune era, including tower houses, for example, Guinigi Towers(Torre Guinigi) and Clock Towers(Torre delle Ore).
The heart of the city - Napoleon Square(Piazza Napoleone), or, as the locals call it, Great Square (Piazza Grande). There are located ducal palace, chairmanship of the provincial government (construction began in 1578 according to the design of the architect Ammanati). Also located there Giglio Theater(Teatro del Giglio) and Art Institute(Istituto d'Arte).
This is where events such as Lucca Comic(Lucca Comics) in late October - early November. Also Summer Festival(Summer Festival) in July - a celebration of Italian and world rock music. A little further away stands the majestic Cathedral of St. Martino(Cattedrale di San Martino), a church built in the 13th century. on the ruins of an 8th century church. Inside it are collected true masterpieces by the hands of Matteo Civitali, Paolo Guinigi, Ghirlandaio, Tintoretto, Passignano, Fra Bortolomeo, Jacopo Ligozzi and Alessandro Allori.
On Via San Paolino we find another important square - the square Saint Michele(Piazza San Michele) with the church of St. Michele of the same name from the mid-12th century. It combines Pisan and Romano-Lombard styles. Inside there is a Latin cross and many objects of art, including the famous Madonna and Child by Andrea della Robbia and a table by Filippino Lippi with images of Saints Girolamo, Sebastiano, Rocco and the Empress Helena (also known as Pala Magrini around 1483).
Another Pisan-Romanesque-Lombard church – Basilica of Saint Frediano(Basilica di San Frediano), built in honor of the patron saint of Lucca and depicting him on the facade in the form of a mosaic. Be sure to pay attention to it! The building itself was erected in the Middle Ages, and the mosaics were added seven centuries later. The importance of this church cannot be overstated. Mosaics, interior decoration, a number of Renaissance frescoes, valuable sculptures - all this makes it one of the most beautiful churches in Italy. It also houses the tomb of another patron saint of the city - Saint Dzita, whose mummified body lies in a transparent capsule.
The most interesting churches
In the city of a hundred churches, you can still choose the most interesting of them. For example, church Saints Giovanni and Reparata(Chiesa dei santi Giovanni e Reparata), standing on the square of the same name between Place Napoleon and Place Saint Martino. An ancient basilica with a square-shaped baptistery, whose foundation was laid back in the 4th century. and until the 7th century. served as a cathedral. The church was rebuilt many times; now it is a Romanesque building with a characteristic portal, where a museum with interesting historical finds is located. Also, concerts of Puccini and just classical music are held here every week. Very interesting also Church of Santa Maria della Rosa(Chiesa di Santa Maria della Rosa) - the heart of another patron of Lucca - Saint Gemma. It was built in 1309 and turned into a chapel, with the Madonna and Saints Peter and Paul depicted inside.
Among the buildings let us also remember Villa Paolo Guinigi(Villa di Paolo Guinigi) 1418, where it is now located National Museum Guinigi(Museo Nazionale Guinigi) - it is not to be missed - with sculptures and finds from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, archaeological materials of the Etruscans, Romans and Ligurians.
National Gallery of Art(Pinacoteca Nazionale), in turn, is located in Mansi Palace(Palazzo Mansi) 17th century. It contains an excellent collection of Italian and foreign artists: Vasari, Jacopo da Bassano, Tintoretto, Veronese, Bronzino, Andrea del Sarto, Guido Reni, Domenichino, Pontormo, Pompeo Batoni. Two more important attractions of the city are: Botanical Garden and the house of Giacomo Puccini. It was in this house that his most famous operas were written: La Boheme, Tosca, Turandot... The composer was born here, in the historical part of the city, a stone's throw from Piazza San Michele, in 1858 and lived most of his youth until he moved to Milan in 1922 Today this building is the house-museum of the great Italian composer. Here you can see items that belonged to his family, including various awards from the maestro from the beginning of his career in Lucca as organist of the Church of San Paolino.
Botanical Garden lies on two hectares in the south-eastern part of the city center. It was founded in 1820 by Maria Luisa Bourbon, Duchess of Lucca (on the initiative of Elisa Bonaparte in 1814). The garden is divided into sectors: fruit plantings, lake, etc. A real oasis of beauty and peace.
An excursion into the history of Lucca
The first traces of human settlement in Lucca date back to the time of the Ligurians. Evidence indicates that the city was founded on one of the islands of the Auser River, or Serchio as it was called in ancient times, so the name of the city itself may come from the root "onion", denoting a swampy place. With the arrival of the Etruscans in the 7th-6th centuries. BC. Lucca experienced a demographic, economic and cultural boom.
The first mention of the city is in the “History” of Titus Livy in 218 BC. After lengthy military operations of the Romans against the Ligurians in 180 BC. Lucca together with Pisa they were annexed to the province of Liguria. In 59 BC. the city became the meeting place of the triumvirate of Pompey, Caesar and Crasso. During the Empire Lucca became an important point at the intersection of the roads of Cassia, Clodia and Aurelia and experienced its heyday (especially in the 1st-2nd century AD). The most global archaeological finds- the ruins of the first walls, the Amphitheater, the Terme Massaciuccoli and the Theater - date back to this period.
With the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, the city was occupied by the Goths, Byzantines (552) and Longobards (570), with the last city became the center of an important duchy. The main churches were also built under them. The Carolingians deprived Lucca of primacy in Tuscany (Florence became the center), and in the 10th-11th centuries. the city experienced an era of severe decline.
13th-14th centuries: important years for Lucca
Already in the 12th century. the city began to rise again: entrepreneurs established a new mint and openly began to compete with Genoa and Pisa. Despite endless wars with Florence, Arezzo, Siena, Prato, Orvieto and Can Miniato, the period from the 12th to the 13th centuries. was, without a doubt, one of the most successful in the history of Lucca. The silk trade and the activities of local entrepreneurs in general brought fame and wealth to the city, and in 1119 they made it an independent commune. At the Diet of San Genesio in 1162, the inhabitants of Lucca received full autonomy from Emperor Federico Barbarossa. In the 14th century the city grew, the neighborhoods of San Frediano and Santa Maria Forisportam appeared.
Castruccio Castracani
The struggle between Guelfi and Ghibellini, between Whites and Blacks, between the most influential families, led to power in 1314 by the tyrant Uguccione Faggiola. It took the inhabitants, led by General Castruccio Castracani, two years to free themselves from it. Castruccio's reign was marked by the greatest expansion of the influence of the commune, which in a short time annexed Pistoia, Volterra and Luni, simultaneously defeating the Florentines at the Battle of Altopascio in 1325 and 1327. The general died of malaria in 1328 during his triumphant return from Florence. With his death a new period of decline began. The city passed from one hand to another: King Giovanni of Bohemia, Rossi, Scaligeri, and finally Pisa - from 1342 to April 7, 1369, when Lucca received a decree from Emperor Charles IV on complete autonomy.
15th century and the great Paolo Guinigi
In 1400-1430 Lucca belonged to Paolo Guinigi, and during these years there was a new flourishing that made the city richer and more beautiful. At the same time, the walls were strengthened to resist any invaders.
Lucca in the 16th-19th centuries.
In 1556, the Aristocratic Republic was founded in Lucca (which lasted until 1799). Since the 16th century. the city experienced an incredible flowering of musical culture, thanks to the activities of Guami, Malvezzi, Gregori, Gasperini, Gemignani and Boccherini. This tradition reached its zenith several centuries later with the arrival of Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924).
Principality of Elisa Baciocchi
Three years after the arrival of Napoleon Lucca acquired a new status, becoming in 1805 a principality under the control of the emperor’s sister, Elisa Bacciocchi, wife of Felix Bacciocchi. At that time, many reforms were carried out in favor of the people; sciences and arts flourished. After a short Austrian rule (1815-1817), in 1817 Lucca became a duchy and passed first into the hands of the Spaniard Maria Louise of Bourbon (1817-1824), and then into her son Charles Louis (1824-1847). Their dominance was marked architectural masterpieces Lorenzo Nottolini, who is also the author of the most beautiful road on the city wall. At the same time, the Savings Fund arose, the Viareggio resort and thermal springs began to develop Lucca. In 1847, the Bourbons left the city, where the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was established under Leopold II. By an act of March 11, 1860, it became part of Piedmont, which completed the unification of Italy the following year.
Important events in Lucca
There are many interesting dates Lucca– a very lively city. On September 13, the religious Holy Cross is celebrated, during which a crucifixion procession takes place and the city is illuminated with a thousand lights. Saint Dzita, April 27, Summer Festival, Murabilla, gardening festival, early September; July 12 – Saint Paolino, patron saint of the city; and of course – the Women's Jazz Festival...
Tuscany. Of course, you can hear or read 100 times, but the best thing is to see this beautiful city once with our positive team of local guides from.
When visiting Italy, you can’t help but stop in a city called Lucca, located on the Serchio River in the province of Tuscany. It is completely surrounded by a fortress wall, 4.2 km long, built in the 16th-17th centuries. It protected the city not only from enemies, but also from floods, which often threatened to destroy many buildings. The architecture of Lucca is dominated by ancient buildings, churches and towers. Local residents proudly note that it was in Lucca that great composers like Giacomo Puccini and Luigi Boccherini were born. Centuries-old history has left its mark on all spheres of life of the townspeople, so Lucca will be of interest to all tourists who want to get acquainted with the customs of the country.
City gate Porta san Pietro
But first things first. The journey begins by entering the city through the Porta san Pietro, built in 1565-1566. Previously, only they were open to foreigners who wanted to get to Lucca. The layout of the city has remained unchanged since the 3rd century AD, when the Romans ruled here. The city is divided into four parts by two streets, one of which runs from north to south (cardo), and the other from east to west (decumanus). They intersect in the center, and the remaining streets run parallel to them and divide the entire territory into small squares.
Piazza San Michele in Foro
Piazza San Michele in Foro is located almost in the very center of the city. A church of the same name was built on it in the 12th century, famous for its unique architecture, which has survived to this day. The shape of the building resembles a huge majestic ship. On the outside of the façade there is a statue of Archangel Michael.
They say that the saint’s hand is decorated with a ring with real diamonds, which was presented to the church as a gift by a grateful parishioner. Many people wait until the evening hour, when twilight is just beginning to envelop the city, to see a bright sparkling dot on the saint’s hand. Near the church there is a house that silently witnessed the birth of the baby Giacomo Puccini, who later became a great composer whose operas are still admired by the whole world.
Mercy Square
There are many squares in Lucca. As soon as you move just a little away from one, you immediately find yourself on another. So, not far from San Michele there is a square called piazza di San Salvatore, which is popularly called Mercy Square. The church of the same name, built in the 12th century, has strict classical forms.
Market Square
Following further along Via Roma and then Fallungo, you come to the Market Square, built in the shape of an oval. Crowds of people always gathered here. But before, people came to gawk at the brave gladiators who fought in the arena of the majestic amphitheater that previously stood on this site.
This explains the shape of the square and the presence of arched passages through which animals and people once came out to entertain the public with their bloody fights. The presence of this building suggests that Lucca was quite rich, since not many even large cities could afford such luxury.
Basilica of San Fridiano
The Basilica di San Frediano church deserves special attention. The fact is that this is the only religious building erected in the Romanesque style between 1112 and 1147. If you go inside the church, you can see its landmark - the baptismal font, made and installed here in the 12th century by the architect Roberto.
It has a somewhat irregular geometric shape with biblical scenes painted on it in marble. Under the altar is the tomb of the founder of the church of San Frediano, and a little to the right is the glass coffin of Saint Zita, revered in Italy by the common people and servants.
Clock Tower Torre delle Ore
Leaving the marble vaults of the church and moving further, you come across the tower of the Torre delle Ore Clock. It was the first building in Lucca to have a clock installed on it in the 14th century. They differed from their modern counterparts in that they did not show time and did not even have a dial. Their duties were only to notify residents about the approach of midnight.
Guinigi Tower
It is simply impossible to visit Lucca and not see Guinigi, which is one of the symbols of the city of Lucca. The tower is visible from afar and is an architectural masterpiece. The palace itself is not made in the form of one separate building, but is a small town. Small buildings, decorated with intricately shaped turrets, were built for members of the large Guinigi family. The founder of this dynasty ruled Lucca at the beginning of the 15th century.
All tourists are advised to climb this famous tower, where from a height of 44 meters an amazing view of the city and the surrounding area opens. This excursion costs only three euros, but the magnificence of the panorama that opens can amaze those who have visited here for the first time. It is also surprising that centuries-old huge trees grow on the terrace of the tower, among which there are oaks that are more than five hundred years old.
Cathedral of San Martino
We descend from the Guinigi Tower and move on, because ahead is the main church and landmark of the city of Lucca, the Cathedral of San Martino, built in the 6th century, but after that it was rebuilt several times, and has come down to us in the form in which it was given in the 15th century. It begins to surprise and delight as soon as you enter. On all sides of the front door there are images telling the story of St. Martin's life. Walking further, the eye begins to inquisitively search for a wall drawing depicting the Labyrinth. Ancient writings claim that this is the plan of the very labyrinth through which Theseus passed, led by the thread of Aridna.
In the sacristy you can see the sarcophagus in which Paolo Guinigi's wife Ilaria rests. At the time of her death, she had just turned twenty-six years old, so her grief-stricken husband asked the famous master Jacopo Della Quercia to create a worthy refuge for her beautiful young body. And the master created a real masterpiece, putting all his passion and skill into this brilliant creation, which is still admired by millions of people from all over the world.
But Jacopo Della Querch did not stop there and created a magnificent statue of John the Baptist for the Cathedral of St. Martin. Further, the attention of visitors will definitely be attracted by the wooden crucifix and the legend that is associated with it. They say that it was carved by Nicodemus from Lebanese cedar, and the image of Christ was suggested to him by angels. When leaving Lucca, many townspeople take with them a copy of the Volto Santo crucifix, confident that it will protect them from troubles and misfortunes on their long journey.
Napoleon Square
Completing the journey, we find ourselves in Piazza Napoleone, piazza Napoleone, so named due to the fact that Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister Eliza and her husband once lived in the palace located on this site. Now the palace is open to numerous guests who can visit art gallery and the city library, which contains rare ancient books and manuscripts. Another collection of paintings is located in the neighboring Manzi palace building.
As for the best time of year to visit Lucca, there is no clear answer. In summer the city is quite hot and dry, but in winter it is moderately humid and warm.
To get to know the city's attractions in more detail, it is best to book a city tour. It lasts approximately three hours, it is carried out Russian speaking guide, and the cost is about 180 euros. This walk includes a visit to the Guinigi Tower, Napoleon Square, Giacomo Puccini's house and other attractions described above.
How to get around the city
Having reached the city by car, it is better to leave your own vehicle outside the city walls in specially designated parking spaces. The city of Lucca is ideal for walking or cycling.
City residents most often choose city buses, tickets for which can be purchased at any tobacco kiosks. Once on train station, you can easily reach the center using electric buses.
Prices in cafes and restaurants
While walking around such a wonderful city, you can’t help but visit small cozy cafes or restaurants. Lunch there for one person will cost approximately 30 euros. Let us add here that a bottle of water with a capacity of 0.33 liters costs about two euros, local beer will cost almost 6 euros per half liter, and a cup of coffee or cappuccino - 1.5–2 euros.
Of course, in expensive restaurants aimed at tourists, these prices are several orders of magnitude higher.
Discover the city of Lucca and you will definitely want to return to it again.
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Lucca is one of 4 Italian cities where the 16th century fortress wall has completely survived, and the only city where people have adapted it for life, turning it into a park. Stroll through the medieval streets of Lucca, climb the towers, sit in a cafe on the square, and feel the ancient spirit of the city.
Lucca Photo Leigh Trail
Lucca is a city of towers, luxurious palazzos and temples from the Trecento era, one of the most romantic corners of Tuscany. Behind the stone walls of its old center a leisurely patriarchal life flows.
5 things to do in Lucca
- Get to know Lucca by walking along the ancient fortress walls surrounding Old city, which today have turned into a park.
- Gain strength and patience to climb observation deck 44-meter Guinigi Tower. There, standing in the shade of the “oak grove,” enjoy the panorama of the city.
- Honor the memory of the great composer Giacomo Puccini, a native of Lucca, by standing near his monument. Enter the museum to see scores, letters, personal belongings and the famous piano of the musician at which Turandot was written.
- Drink coffee and watch passers-by while sitting in a cozy cafe on the square, built on the site of an ancient Roman amphitheater.
- Find out if the building of the Church of San Michele in Foro really looks like a ship. Admire and appreciate the beauty and originality of the openwork loggias.
When is the best time to go?
Lucca is in Tuscan Riviera, among wooded hills, at the foot of the Pisa Mountains and the Apuan Alps. The city stands near the Serchio River, surrounded by a swampy, wet valley. The climate in winter is moderately warm and humid: rains mainly occur in November. Summers are dry and hot, with minimal precipitation falling in July. Average annual temperature+14.4°C; in July-August the heat reaches +28–29°C; in January the thermometer drops to +2°C.
Spring (April - May) - best time to visit Lucca. The city is awakening, everything is blooming, the heat has not yet set in, prices for hotels and services have not yet risen.
Attractions
Botanical Garden
Fortress wall
Cathedral of St. Martin
Church of St. John and Reparata
Lily Theater
Church of St. Michael at the Forum
Puccini House Museum
Palazzo Mansi Museum
Clock tower
Guinigi Tower
Amphitheater Square
Basilica of St. Fridian
Fortress wall
The old center of Lucca is surrounded by a fortification wall (Mura di Lucca) about 4.5 km long with 11 bastions, 6 external and 3 internal gates. It was built for defense against external enemies and protection from the waters of Serchio, which were advancing on the city. In the 19th century, the wall was planted with plane trees. Today, when viewed from above, it looks like a green velvet necklace encircling the city. This main park cities with bike paths and walking alleys. Restaurants are open in the former bastions, and there are street cafes at the top. Mura di Lucca often serves as the backdrop for concerts and street performances.
Amphitheater Square
Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, photo r3dm@r
The ensemble of the Amphitheater Square (Piazza dell’Anfiteatro) was built on the site of a Roman amphitheater of the 2nd century. The oval space, which has retained the shape of the ancient gladiatorial arena, is surrounded by Renaissance buildings. There are 4 gates leading to the square.
Clock tower
Clock Tower (Torre delle ore), photo Graham Tiller
The main sign of Lucca is watchtowers and church campaniles: here and there they rise among the tiled roofs. In the 14th century there were 250 such structures, only 130 have survived, many equipped with observation decks.
The highest is the 50-meter Clock Tower (Torre delle ore) (XIII century) with a belfry and a clock installed in 1754.
Guinigi Tower
Torre Guinigi, photo Joe Lewit
A unique structure is the Roman-Gothic Tower of Guinigi (Torre Guinigi) (1384). Holm oak trees were planted on top of this 44-meter building in the 15th century. The trees are still growing.
Cathedral of St. Martin
Cathedral of St. Martin (Cattedrale di San Martino) - a Gothic-style temple with a quadrangular bell tower, was founded in the 6th century; acquired its current appearance in the 11th century. Its façade, renovated in the 13th century, features amazing columns. Among them, no two are alike: each is decorated with unique carvings, reliefs, and inlays. Inside, paintings by Ghirlandaio and Tintoretto, Bartolomeo, Allori, sculptures by Giambologna and Civitali, and a marble tomb by Jacopo Quercia have been preserved.
Church of Saints John and Reparata
Church of Saints John and Reparata (Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata), photo emzepe
In Piazza San Giovanni there is the Church of St. Reparata and next to it is the Baptistery of St. John. The temples were built at the end of the 12th century. on the site of a sanctuary from the ancient era (5th century). The complex of buildings of the Church of St. John and the Martyr Reparata (Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata) combines features of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture. Underneath it, archaeologists found the remains of ancient baths, an early Christian church and a crypt from the time of the Lombards.
Church of St. Michael in the Forum
Basilica of San Michele in Foro (Chiesa di San Michele in Foro), photo Gregory
The Church of San Michele in Foro (Chiesa di San Michele in Foro) is a temple in the Romano-Lombard style with 4 rows of openwork loggias. It was built in the 12th century on the site of an ancient forum, where in the 8th century. there was an older church. The building resembles a huge ship, on the rostrum of which rises a 4-meter figure of the Archangel Michael, framed by two angels.
Basilica of St. Fridian
Basilica of San Frediano, photo by Richard Barrett-Small
The Basilica of St. Frediano (Basilica di San Frediano) was founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 12th century in the Lombard style. There is a Byzantine mosaic above the portal. Inside is a Romanesque round marble font with elaborate bas-reliefs from the life of the prophet Moses. The relics of Saint Zita rest in San Fridiano.
Villa Torrigiani
Villa Torrigiani, photo Elena Battini
Villa Torrigiani is a striking example of secular baroque in Tuscany. Built in the 16th century for the Bonvisi family, reconstructed by order of the Marquis Nicolao Santini (ambassador of the Republic of Lucca at the court of Louis XIV) according to the model of the Versailles palaces.
Lily Theater
The Teatro del Giglio, founded in 1672, has undergone several renovations. The ruler of Tuscany, Marie-Louise Bourbon, named it after the flower of the emblem of the Bourbon dynasty. Today the theater hosts symphonic music concerts and dance programs; ballet, opera and drama performances.
National Museum of Villa Guinigi
The Villa Guinigi Museum (Museo nazionale di Villa Guinigi) on Via della Quarquonia contains architectural and sculptural exhibits, fossil finds, and paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries.
Museum in Mansi Palace
Palazzo Mansi Museum (Museo di Palazzo Mansi), photo sailko
The Palazzo Mansi Museum is a National Museum and Pinacoteca. The Renaissance Mansi Palace has preserved the original furnishings of the 16th–18th centuries. Antique fabrics, tapestries, weaving tools are exhibited here; The National Pinacoteca was opened with a collection of paintings by Leopold II, Duke of Tuscany. The collection includes works by Tintoretto, Titian, and Veronese.
Puccini House Museum
Monument to Giacomo Puccini next to the house where the musician was born (Casa Natale di Giacomo Puccini), photo by vincenzo baldassarre
The house-museum of Giacomo Puccini (Puccini Museum) is located at Corte San Lorenzo 9. The composer was born here on December 22, 1858, and spent his childhood and youth. In the museum you will see Puccini’s personal belongings, originals of his letters and scores, and the piano at which the opera “Turandot” was written.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden (Orto botanico comunale di Lucca), photo fabcom
The Botanical Garden (Orto botanico comunale di Lucca) was founded by decree of Marie Louise, Duchess of Lucca in 1820. About 200 species of plants are planted on 2 hectares; there is a pond where the mystical “Murabilya” shows take place in the fall.
History paragraph
City view, photo Marian Bulacu
The city was founded by the Etruscans in 218 BC. e. After 40 years, the settlement was occupied by the Romans, completely destroying it and rebuilding it. The empire fell under the onslaught of the Goths, then the Lombards and Franks came. After the fall of the Carolingians, Lucca became the capital of the Tuscan March. From 1378 until the arrival of Napoleon it was an independent republic. After the expulsion of the Bonapartes, Lucca belonged to the Duchy of Tuscany, then to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Since 1861 it has become part of a united Italy.
On July 11–12, the city honors its heavenly patron saint, St. Paulinus. The Palio di San Paolino festival opens with a solemn procession with banners. The most striking event is the crossbowmen's tournament.
In July, Lucca hosts the rock music festival Lucca Summer Festival. He passes under open air on Place Napoleon.
In August – the international Festival Puccini.
September 13–14 – main religious holiday– Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Residents come to venerate the relic - the Holy Face, the crucifix, which is kept in the Cathedral. Believers from all city parishes take part in the candlelight procession.
Every year at the turn of October - November, Lucca hosts International festival comics (Lucca Comics and Games). Since 1993, he has also covered the topic of computer games and simulations. Over the course of 4 days, the festival brings together leading masters of the genre and many tourists.
Cuisine and restaurants
Local cuisine is simple and tasty. Among the soups, Garmucha spring soup with peas, onions, asparagus, artichokes, green beans in beef broth with pieces of meat and brisket is popular. Try Matuffi, a cornmeal porridge with mushrooms and Parmesan or meat sauce. Traditional main courses: Rovellina - beef, cut into thin slices, fried and stewed in a sauce of tomatoes, capers and herbs; pork with chestnut flour polenta; rabbit in a sauce of tomatoes, red peppers, olives, onions and garlic, herbs; fried baby goat with artichokes; trout from the Serchio River on a spit; dried cod(baccalà), fried with chickpeas; vegetable casseroles using cauliflower, green beans, spinach, artichokes and beets.
For those with a sweet tooth, try buccellato - a sweet pie with raisins and anise; necci – pancakes made from chestnut flour filled with ricotta; castagnaccio - pie made from chestnut flour with pine nuts and raisins.
Among the wines, try white and red Montecarlo DOC and Colline Lucchesi DOC, as well as the herbal liqueur Biadina, which is produced only in Lucca.
Traditional Tuscan cuisine can be enjoyed at Trattoria da Leo (Via Tegrimi 1). The best place to have a snack is at Forno A Vapore Amedeo Giusti (Via Santa Lucia 18/20). The Locanda Eremo del Gusto restaurant (Via Gelli 35/37 - Petrognano - Capannori) is known for its magnificent views of the city. Caffè di Simo (Via Fillungo, 58) serves the best breakfast (cappuccino + cornetto for €3-4) in an Art Nouveau interior. The Buca di Sant'Antonio restaurant (Via Cervia, 3) offers gourmet cuisine. For dinner, head to the Vineria I Santi restaurant at Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, 17, or to Vecchia Trattoria Buralli at Piazza Sant’Agostino, 10.
Shopping
On the main shopping street of Lucca, photo mikewinburn
Every third weekend of the month, antique markets open in many squares of the city and are considered the best in Italy.
Via Fillungo is the main shopping street of Lucca with Max Mara, Armani, Missoni boutiques, simple shops and souvenir shops.
The Enoteca Vanni store (Piazza del Salvatore 7) offers a wide selection of Italian wines, which you can taste before purchasing.
Not far from the city there is the Migliarino Natural Park (Parco naturale di Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli). On its territory there are different ecosystems - from wetlands to sand dunes. His central part occupies a protected area of 5,000 hectares - San Rossore. Rare birds and ungulates live there. The park complex includes the picturesque Lake Massaciuccoli - an equipped recreation area where you can relax and go boating.
Lucca is another city that everyone loves. I found some bourgeois research, and according to it, Lucca leaves tourists with the most positive emotions, leaving behind in this rating. I confirm that the city is very pleasant and interesting, almost like a resort in its atmosphere. All this grace is difficult to formalize in words, but I will try to convey it visually in my report about Lucca.
Map of Lucca attractions:
I got to Lucca by train from, the cities are located very close, so the journey took me less than half an hour. If you come from, it will be a little longer, about an hour and a half. In general, the location of the city from the point of view of usual tourist routes in Tuscany is very convenient.
Already at the station I felt local grace. The environment was un-Italian clean, there were no homeless people or migrants, there was even a working fountain and a girl reading on the station square.
City wall of Lucca
Lucca is one of four unique Italian cities where the city wall has completely (!) survived. This is clearly visible on the map above; the entire central historical part of Lucca is fenced around the perimeter.
I crossed the station square and saw... a blank wall. Fortunately, it was not too early, people were rushing to the center, and I followed them. It turned out that the narrow passage to the city was hidden behind this bend of the bastion wall.
At the top along the entire length of the wall there is big park. You can walk around the whole of Lucca without leaving the wall.
At nine in the morning the walls are quite deserted, mostly runners. This is a good distance for them; if you run around the whole of Lucca along the wall, you will get a run of four and a half kilometers.
Just beyond the wall I came across the local cathedral. It was unexpected, for some reason I thought that the main temple of Lucca should be in the center of the city, and not near the wall. It turned out that during the construction of the cathedral in the densely built-up center ancient city there was no room because... he found himself on the very outskirts of the city.
I wandered around the area a little in search of the main entrance to the Duomo.
Cathedral of St. Martina (12)
The first thought that came to me when I saw the façade of the cathedral: “Ha, yes, they licked it from Pisa.” And, indeed, the Lucca Cathedral was built to surpass its rival neighbor.
Admire the facade of St. Martin is endless, there are so many details here.
Image of a labyrinth. On the right is scribbled the inscription “the same labyrinth that Daedalus built on Crete, from where anyone who enters will not be able to find a way out, except Theseus, who was saved by the love and thread of Ariadne.” Lucca stood at the crossroads of pilgrimage routes, and the labyrinth was supposed to remind pilgrims of the difficulty of their path. Although in Lucca the scale of the labyrinth is much more modest.
As I already said, you can look at the facade endlessly, but I will limit myself to just one more picture. Above in the stone are depicted scenes from the life of St. Martin of Tours, and on the bottom row is a calendar and zodiac signs. Each month is symbolized by a scene from the life of peasants. I was especially touched by the picture where a man tramples grapes in a large vat.
The Roman guards came out slightly comical. Their fright is too theatrical.
The cathedral houses Lucca's main masterpiece. Messrs. Vasari and Muratov completely agree with me, and I will quote the latter.
The best thing in this city was created by a stranger, the great Siena sculptor Jacopo della Quercia. In the cathedral, this contemporary and worthy rival of Donatello made a tombstone for the young Ilaria del Caretto. A young woman rests on the lid of a sarcophagus in a sleeping or resting position, her beloved dog lies at her feet. Around the sarcophagus is a frieze of babies supporting very heavy garlands. Quercia didn’t add anything else; it was as if he deliberately even took away all the fun from the cupids, who so often entertain and bother with their smiles on the Florentine tombs. The harmony and seriousness of the monument is not disturbed in any way; the young woman is deeply immersed in the royal sleep of death. The grandeur of the theme is simply and powerfully expressed in the rhythm that guides the massive garlands of vines.
Ilaria is beautiful and seems to be asleep, it seems she is waiting for her prince, who would resurrect her with his kiss. But, perhaps, enough admiration and tenderness, otherwise the attentive reader will suspect something: “It’s amazing that he didn’t describe a single male dead man, as if men don’t die. But they, of course, die, and only travel blogger Koshak He’s not interested in them. He brought out a whole boarding house of stone dead women - and not old women (not one), but all young and pretty.”
Iliria’s beloved dog guards her owner’s eternal sleep.
41. Church of Santi Giovanni e Reparata
On the same area as Cathedral Lucca is home to another remarkable church. By the way, it was at first that it was the local cathedral, and only in the 7th century did the department move to neighboring San Martino.
I didn’t have a goal to go to all the churches in Lucca. For myself, I identified the three most significant churches, and e-Reparata was not included in them.
The facade of the church, as you saw in the previous picture, is more modern, but some details have survived from Romanesque architecture, for example, l You on the façade were having a merry fuss.
I really like streets like this.
Despite the very compact area of the city, there are a huge number of churches. Almost every second building is a temple. Most of them are not noted in tourist map and are awarded only a couple of lines on the wiki, for example, San Giusto, it’s only the 12th century, there’s a lot of that here.
I'm telling you, there's something about Lucca. Here, let's say, a flower pot.
And look how decent people are here.
20. Clock tower
Torre delle ore was built at the end of the 14th century. Of course, at that time it did not yet have a dial; the time was marked by the sound of bells. You can climb the tower, but I don’t recommend doing this, because... there is much more in Lucca interesting tower, but more about it a little later.
The urban legend about the fatal beauty Lucida Mansi is associated with the Clock Tower. According to which Lucida sold her soul to the devil in exchange for 30 years of youth and beauty. When the time came to an end, Lucida ran up the tower to hold the tongue of the bell and stop the flow of time. But then a carriage engulfed in hellish flames appeared at the tower and took Lucida to the underworld. Allegedly, this carriage can still be seen at night on the city streets.
IN San Cristoforo The Leonardo da Vinci Museum was established.
7. San Michele in Foro
This is the second of the great churches of Lucca. It is located right in the center of Lucca on the site of the ancient forum (hence the name). Apparently due to central place and impressive appearance, in some reviews of Lucca I have come across the erroneous opinion that San Michele is the main temple of Lucca.
San Michele impressed me even more than the cathedral. The facade here is even more ornate, and some art critics (for example, Muratov) believe that it is even too elaborate.
At the very top of the church there is a marble statue of Archangel Michael. Allegedly, the ring on his finger contains a real diamond, a gift from a wealthy parishioner. And, when dusk falls over the city, then from a certain place in the square, if you look closely at the hand of the saint, you can notice an unusual brightly luminous point.
The imagination of the builders of San Michele worked perfectly, just look at these fabulous creatures on the bas-relief above the entrance.
But for some reason I didn’t remember the church inside after the gorgeous façade.
Only the bright painting by Filippino Lippi remained in my memory and on the flash drive. Who does it look like? On Botticelli, of course.
