About this experience
Lucca is one of the rare Italian cities where ancient fortress walls are well preserved. It is the homeland of the great composer Giacomo Puccini and simply a beautiful cozy town where you can spend a pleasant time. During the walk, you will learn about the city's centuries-old history and see all the most important and beautiful sights.
What to Expect
History of the fortress walls. I will tell you how a Roman settlement founded in 180 BC turned into a city, how its fortress fortifications were transformed during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. You will walk along the walls of Lucca, which have become wide boulevards lined with magnificent plane trees.
Temples, palaces, and banks. You will learn how it happened that in such a small town there are a hundred churches, and why the grandeur of palace buildings seems disproportionate to the city, making it resemble an open-air museum.
Architectural monuments of the 11th-13th centuries, for which people come to Lucca:
- The Cathedral of St. Martin, which houses the famous "Supper" by Tintoretto and the Volto-Santo - one of Lucca's symbols, a unique wooden crucifix from Lebanese cedar "holy face";
- the church of San Michele in Foro, built on the site of the ancient Roman forum, with its aerial facade adorned with a marble statue of Archangel Michael;
- the medieval clock tower without a clock face, which reminds of itself every midnight with a melodious chime;
- the historical cafe "DiSimo" - the favorite meeting place of the composer Giacomo Puccini with his friends, poets, and writers Rascoli, Verga, Ungaretti;
- the Amphitheater Square, where gladiators used to enter the oval arena through low arches and release lions,
- as well as the ancient Basilica of San Frediano and the Guinigi Tower, built of brick and sandstone, on top of which ancient dwarf oaks grow.
