Lucca: City of 100 Churches and Renaissance Walls

In the green heart of Tuscany, surrounded by the gentle hills of Garfagnana and Versilia, stands Lucca, one of Italy's most fascinating and best-preserved art cities. Known as the "city of a hundred churches," Lucca enchants visitors with its perfectly intact Renaissance walls, historic palaces, and medieval towers that rise majestically above the urban fabric.

Walking through Lucca means taking a journey through time, where every stone tells centuries of history, art, and traditions. From ancient Roman origins to medieval splendor, from the Renaissance to the Napoleonic era, this city has preserved its artistic and cultural heritage, offering visitors an authentic and unforgettable experience.

Lucca is not just an open-air museum, but a living, pulsating city where art blends harmoniously with the daily life of its inhabitants, creating that magical atmosphere that only true art cities can offer.

The Renaissance Walls: an embrace of stone

Lucca's walls represent one of the most extraordinary examples of Renaissance fortification in Europe. Built between the 16th and 17th centuries, they extend for over 4 kilometers and completely enclose the historic center, creating a green ring that today hosts one of Italy's most beautiful urban parks.

Walking or cycling along the perimeter of the walls is a unique experience: on one side you admire the city with its bell towers, towers, and terracotta roofs, on the other you enjoy the view of the Apuan Alps and surrounding hills. The walls, completely walkable, are dotted with bastions, historic gates, and guardhouses, testimonies to the military engineering of the era.

The bastions and historic gates

• Porta San Pietro: the main entrance to the city, with its imposing Baroque facade
• Porta Santa Maria: characterized by its still-functioning drawbridge
• Porta Sant'Anna: the smallest, but rich in historical charm
• Bastione San Salvatore: offers an exceptional panoramic view of the city

San Martino Cathedral: jewel of Luccan Romanesque

In the heart of the city stands the Cathedral of San Martino, a masterpiece of Pisan Romanesque architecture. Its asymmetrical facade, decorated with polychrome marble and refined sculptures, conceals an interior rich in artistic treasures that have made Lucca famous throughout the world.

The Cathedral houses the Volto Santo, a wooden crucifix venerated since the Middle Ages and considered miraculous. According to tradition, it was carved by Nicodemus, witness to Christ's crucifixion, and arrived in Lucca by miracle in the 8th century. Every year on September 13th, the city celebrates the Luminara of the Volto Santo with a suggestive nocturnal procession.

The Cathedral's artistic treasures

Inside the cathedral you can admire:

• The funeral monument of Ilaria del Carretto, work of Jacopo della Quercia
• The Altarpiece of San Regolo by Ghirlandaio
• The frescoes of the Sanctuary chapel
• The precious Cosmatesque floor

San Michele in Foro Church: Romanesque splendor

Built on the remains of the ancient Roman forum, from which it takes its name, San Michele in Foro represents one of the purest examples of Pisan Romanesque. Its facade, completely clad in white marble and decorated with superimposed loggias, culminates with the great statue of Archangel Michael dominating the square below.

The interior, with three naves, preserves important works of art, including a panel by Filippino Lippi depicting four saints. The church is also famous for its historic organ, which resounds during evening concerts that enliven Luccan evenings.

Guinigi Tower: the medieval hanging garden

An unmistakable symbol of Lucca, the Guinigi Tower is the only one remaining of the over 250 towers that dotted the city's skyline in the Middle Ages. Built in the 14th century by the powerful Guinigi family, this 44-meter tower is famous worldwide for its holm oaks growing on its summit, creating a suggestive hanging garden at almost 50 meters high.

The climb of 230 steps is rewarded by a breathtaking view over the entire city and surrounding countryside. From the tower's terraces you can admire Lucca from above, with its red roofs, church bell towers, and the walls that encircle it like an embrace of stone.

Curiosities about the Guinigi Tower

The holm oaks growing on the tower's summit have been there for over 600 years and represent a symbol of rebirth and hope. According to legend, as long as the trees remain alive, the Guinigi family will also prosper.

The Roman Amphitheater: from arena to market square

One of Lucca's most fascinating features is the perfect preservation of the elliptical shape of the ancient 1st-century AD Roman amphitheater. What once hosted gladiatorial games is today Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, one of Italy's most suggestive urban spaces.

The medieval and Renaissance houses surrounding the square follow exactly the perimeter of the ancient arena, creating a unique scenic effect. In the center of the square, where the arena once was, today the weekly market takes place and you'll find welcoming cafes and typical restaurants.

Palazzo Pfanner and the Italian gardens

Built in the 17th century, Palazzo Pfanner represents one of the most elegant examples of Baroque architecture in Lucca. The palace is famous not only for its sumptuous interiors decorated with frescoes and stuccoes, but especially for the magnificent Italian garden that extends toward the city walls.

The gardens, with their geometrically arranged boxwood hedges, Baroque statues, and monumental staircase, offer an oasis of peace in the heart of the city. You can visit both the historic apartments and stroll through the garden paths, enjoying a privileged perspective on the walls and Guinigi Tower.

The "100 churches" of Lucca: a unique heritage

Lucca owes its nickname "city of a hundred churches" to the incredible concentration of religious buildings that characterizes its territory. Every corner of the city houses a church, oratory, or chapel, testimony to the deep faith and artistic wealth that have distinguished Luccan history.

In addition to the Cathedral and San Michele in Foro, worth visiting are San Frediano with its facade decorated with a golden mosaic, Santa Maria Forisportam with its elegant Romanesque portal, and San Pietro Somaldi with its characteristic bell tower. Each church tells a different story and houses unique artistic treasures, from Renaissance altarpieces to medieval frescoes.

San Frediano Church: the golden mosaic

Dedicated to Lucca's patron saint, San Frediano is distinguished by the imposing 13th-century golden mosaic decorating its facade. Inside are preserved the 12th-century baptismal font and the chapel of Sant'Agostino with frescoes by Amico Aspertini.

Lucca awaits you with its art treasures, millennial history, and the warm welcome of its inhabitants. Whether you're passionate about art, history, or simply seeking authentic beauty, this city will captivate you with its timeless charm. Come discover why Lucca is considered one of Tuscany's most precious pearls!