A Guide to Lucca

Once the capital of Tuscany, Lucca’s significance in history stretches right back to Roman times. The Roman amphitheatre and woman walls are still preserved, but its Medieval appearance dominates the city. Once with a total of seventy churches, those that remain are hidden away in the winding narrow medieval streets or overlook the small squares.

The three most beautiful churches are the Duomo, San Michele and San Frediano. Other sites of interest include the Museo Nazionale, the Farneta Charter House and the Palazzo Arcivescovile. Luca is an elegant city and on approaching the city you are struck by the incredibly well preserved Renaissance walls which encircle the town and allow for an excellent promenade. Lucca was the birth place of several famous musicians including Giacomo Puccini, Luigi Boccherini and Alfredo Catalani.

The centuries' old commercial activities with the fabrication and marketing of silk along with the delicate gastronomic menu, which include the traditional sweet buccellato, are specialties of Luca. The landscape around the city is equally enchanting and is dotted with splendidly grandiose villas built by wealthy merchants between the 17th and 19th century. Villa Reale, Villa Mansi and Villa Torrigiani are all well worth a visit.