Lucca is a city with Roman origins and a history of Silk Road trade in the middle ages. Explore the old center and stumble across ancient ruins, peaceful piazzas and winding cobbled streets with characterful cafes nestled among them.
Wander through history
It’s easy to see why this architecturally stunning place is often referred to as ‘the city of one hundred churches’ thanks to the sheer number of religious buildings proudly populating it. The real conversation-starter is the imposing cathedral, Il Duomo, at its historic heart.
A warren of narrow streets lined with rose-hued medieval buildings leads to the Piazza Antelminelli in which this impressive structure stands tall. Admire the bell-tower piercing the sky or step into the silence inside and discover religious art worthy of a pilgrimage.
Stop for an espresso in Piazza Anfiteatro, not a square but a circle. Built on the ruins of an amphitheater, this piazza is surrounded by peach and sunflower-colored buildings with green shutters. Grab a cold drink or Italian coffee under the shade of an umbrella at any of the al fresco cafes and listen to footsteps on time-worn stone echo around the ancient townhouses.
A view from the top
Ascend the winding wooden stairs of the red-bricked Guinigi Tower. This defensive structure is one of the few remaining in Lucca, whose skyline once bristled with hundreds of noble families’ towers. Emerge at the top of 230 stairs to an ancient roof garden where shady holm oak trees scrape the sky and offer the most intriguing sight.
Hit a high note
Lucca is the birthplace of one of Italy’s most famous composers. Step inside the house of Puccini, now a small museum. Walk through rooms restored to their 1850s original style and uncover a collection of instruments and sumptuous operatic costumes dating from his time as a composer.
Follow in the footsteps of nobility
Built by a noble family in 1660, Palazzo Pfanner is an estate of old-world opulence in the center of Lucca. Sumptuous gardens filled with 18th-century statues and fragrant lemon trees lead to an attractive villa.
The main hall is open to the public and, as well as featuring the expected antique furniture and frescoed ceiling, displays a curious collection of surgical instruments and old medical texts.
A drive to remember
Lucca boasts a location close to the Cinque Terre, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Each of the five UNESCO-protected villages has its own distinct character.
Drive along the winding coastal road in between and, around every corner, admire a rainbow of Venetian houses perched on a sheer cliff over a sapphire sea. Begin in Corniglia in the south, where you can descend a rock-hewn staircase down to a sea cavern.
Head north to Riomaggiore, the largest of the villages, where the UNESCO park information center is. Admire the tiny boats bobbing up and down in the harbor beneath the narrow, cobbled streets of Manarola.
Vernazza has a tiny beach, perfect for dipping your toes into on a hot day, but the final stop in Monterosso boasts the best stretch of beach, where crystal shallows lap at gorgeous golden sands.
Head back into Lucca, where an array of fine Italian restaurants buzz to life when the sun goes down. Car rental in Lucca makes sense if you want to unlock these fine Tuscan treats.
