Discover Lucca

Lucca is a Tuscan provincial capital, located just 19 meters above sea level, has 83,000 inhabitants. It boasts a complex history, which began as a Ligurian settlement, then Etruscan, later a Roman colony, then the capital of Tuscia and capital of the Marquisate of Tuscany in the Carolingian period, was then subdued to Pisa to regain freedom in 1369; then Principality until 1860 and then joined the Kingdom of Italy. The main artery of the historic center is via Fillungo, full of art nouveau buildings, shops and cafes, while the main square is dedicated to Napoleon, whose sister ruled Lucca from 1805 to 1815. Remarkable monumental building is the Government Palace, built on the area of the Augustan fortress of 1300 with the collaboration of Giotto. It was the seat of public offices. Imposing is the Cathedral, dedicated to San Martino, with an asymmetrical façade due to the mighty bell tower of 1160. Romanesque, from the 12th century, inside, Gothic, it houses Renaissance sculptures of great value. Lucca was the birthplace, in 1858, of the composer Giacomo Puccini. Of the Roman Lucca, founded in 180 a. C. many traces remain, from the church of San Michele in foro, built on the ancient Roman forum, with pagan decorations to the amphitheater, today the market square. In Santa Maria foriportam there is a Roman column. The road network has remained unchanged since Roman times with the entrance doors to the medieval city. In the Renaissance period the Roman and medieval defensive works were replaced by 4 kilometers of walls that completely surround the center of Lucca. Although imposing and mighty, they were never used for war purposes. Maria Luisa Di Borbone transformed them into a public promenade and today together with 11 bastions and 6 gates they represent the public park that surrounds the city.