Lucca - main attractions and interesting places. Italy
Do you want to organize a trip to the city of art Lucca and need accurate information? Do you want to know? why do tourists adore this medieval Italian city and are in no hurry to leave? A short city guide will help you.
Briefly about the history of the city
Hotels in Lucca and satellite map
Where to stay in the cityHotel Noblesse |
What museums are worth visiting?
The great Italian opera composer was born in Lucca Giacomo Puccini. Visit the Composer's House Museum and get acquainted with the stages of his life and work, see family portraits, letters and notes of the composer, as well as the famous Steiway piano on which the masterpiece was created Turandot. (1926). Address: Piazza San Michele. Price entrance ticket- 7 euros. Schedule:
Pinacoteca Palazzo Mansi- for art lovers. Mostly paintings from the 19th century are presented here. You can also enjoy the works Tintoretto, Titian, Ghirlandaio, Veronese And Domenichino. Address: Via Galli Tassi, 43 (on the map). The entrance ticket costs 4 euros. Schedule:
On weekdays: from 8.30 to 19.30
Weekends and Monday: closed
National Museum of Villa Guinigi(on via della Quarquonia). Among the many exhibits from different eras, the most notable are painted cross Berlinghiero Berlinghieri, SorrowMatteo Civitali, Ecstasy of St. Catherine of Siena work Pompeo Batoni, Madonna of Mercy Florentine artist Fra Bartolomeo. Schedule:
Tuesday - Saturday: from 8.30 to 19.30
In July and August it is also open on Sundays from 8.30 to 13.30
Closed - Monday
Image gallery - Villa Guinigi:
Media World- Via delle Cornacchie 960, Località Le Catena 55100 Lucca What elseTake the opportunity to cycle along the city wall. Just a few kilometers from the city there is a lake Lago di Massaciuccoli. Take a boat ride and enjoy the magnificent panorama. Routes in the reserve have been developed for naturalists igliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli. Restaurants and pizzerias in Lucca - editor's choiceOsteria del "Vecchio Pazzo" - Via di Matraia, San Pancrazio - 55100 Lucca Tel 0583-579131 How to get to LuccaBy plane - nearest airports: Pisa Airport "G. Galilei" By bus: Lucca's bus station is located in Piazzale Verdi in the historical center of the city. By train: Lucca train station is located behind the fortress walls near the S.Pietro gate in the square Piazza Ricasoli. From Florence: railway S.Maria Novella station
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No real traveler would refuse to find himself in a city with a long history, surrounded by fortress walls of the 16th century, practically undamaged by time, among the architecture of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, colorful markets and shops with local delicacies... Lucca can surprise, enchant, intrigue and leave an unforgettable impression.
Lucca is a city with a population of 90 thousand inhabitants, an area of 185.5 sq. km, located in the northwest, near, and.
History of Lucca
Regarding the origin of the city of Lucca, historians express different opinions: some believe that the city, which arose in a marshy area, has a connection with, based on the Celtic-Ligurian name “Luk”, which means “swamp”; other scholars, based on recent archaeological discoveries, attribute the founding of the city to the Etruscans.
But be that as it may, already in 180 BC. Lucca was a Roman colony, as evidenced by the oval-shaped Amphitheater Square and the forum, located on the site of the modern Piazza San Michele. However, traces of the presence of the ancient Romans are most easily recognized in the historical center of the city, whose streets follow the strict perpendicularity of Roman streets. The first fortress walls that bounded the square of the ancient Roman urban layout date back to the same period.
The history of Lucca consists of periods of war and foreign domination followed by years of peace and prosperity. In the 5th century, Lucca was occupied by the Goths, in the 6th century the city was conquered by the Byzantines, then Lucca turned into one of the most important cities of the Longobard kingdom. With the fall of Longobard power in 773, the rule of the Carolingians began, under whose rule the city began to actively develop thanks to commercial activities and textile production - silk of the highest quality was produced here, which was valued in many countries.
Textile products of ancient Lucca (museum in the Mansi Palace). Photoflickr. com
Lucca and neighboring Pisa had been at odds with each other for a long time, and in 1314 the Pisans finally established their power in Lucca, which entailed the loss of Lucca's monopoly on the textile market. In 1370 Lucca regained its freedom and independence, and in 1438 a truce was signed with Florence, returning the city to a state of economic and political stability.
In 1799, during Napoleon's Italian campaign, Lucca came under his rule. About it historical fact mentioned in his novel “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy, opening his famous work with the following phrase uttered by the maid of honor Anna Scherer in 1805: “Eh bien, mon prince, Gênes et Lucques ne sont plus que des apanages, des "pomestja" de la famille Buonaparte..." (Well, Prince, Genoa and Lucca became no more than estates of the Bonaparte family...) In 1815 Lucca became the Duchy of Bourbon, and in 1847 the Duke of Lucca Charles Louis of Bourbon-Parma ceded the Duchy of Lucca to the Grand Duchy Tuscany, which led to the loss of his independence.
Coat of arms of the Duchy of Lucca. Photo: loschermo.it
The tourist destination began to develop in Lucca around 1930, which was greatly facilitated by the construction of the Firenze-Mare (Florence - Sea) highway.
Sights of Lucca
The first thing that catches the eye of a tourist who decides to explore Lucca is the impressive fortress wall, built in the XV-XVII centuries to protect the city, 4223 meters long, with 11 bastions, six external and three internal gates. Already from the second half of the 19th century century, the powerful fortress wall began to be used as a place for hiking. For some time, until the 90s of the last century, cars, including heavy-duty ones, even drove along it - the only example in the world of such use of fortress walls. Today the city walls are a great place for walking and cycling.
Alley on the city wall. Photoflickr. com
Historical Center Lucca has remained virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages - the same narrow streets, squares with adjacent towers and palaces and about 60 churches. The city is crossed by the central street of ancient Lucca - Via Fillungo.
Via Fillungo. Photoflickr. com
Cathedral Saint Martin. Photo flickr.com
Among the masterpieces that can be seen inside the cathedral are the painting “Madonna Enthroned with Child and Saints” by the 15th century Florentine artist Domenico Ghirlandaio and the tombstone of Ilaria Carretto by the sculptor Jacopo Della Quercia.
Tombstone by Jacopo della Quercia. Photobefan. it
St. Michael's Church(Chiesa di San Michele in Foro), located on, and (Basilica di San Frediano) are striking examples of Pisan-Lucca architecture.
Church of St. Michael. Photoflickr. com
(Torre Giunigi), 44 meters high, is the main and tallest tower of Lucca - one of the few that has survived to this day, although at the beginning of the 14th century there were more than 250 towers and bell towers in the city. The Guinigi, the most noble family of the city, decided to ennoble their family tower by planting several oak trees on its top - a symbol of rebirth.
Guinigi Tower.Photoflickr. com
Amphitheater Square(Piazza dell "Anfiteatro) has the shape of an ellipse, since it was built in the Middle Ages on the remains of an ancient Roman amphitheater dating back to the 2nd century. The level of the modern square is three meters higher than the ancient arena. There are four gates leading to the square, only one of which , the lowest, completely repeat their medieval original.
Amphitheater Square. Photobanningpoverty. org
Villa Paolo Guinigi(XV century) since 1924 is the location of state museum, containing a rich artistic and archaeological collection.
Mansi Palace(Palazzo Mansi), built at the end of the 16th century, is also now a museum, the exhibits of which are not only paintings by masters of the 19th century, but also samples of ancient fabrics and textile products from Lucca.
Pfanner Palace(Palazzo Pfanner) from the 17th century is a magnificent example of Lucca Baroque, surrounded by a beautiful garden.
IN House-Museum of Giacomo Puccini, where the composer was born, his letters, scores, photographs, and personal items are currently stored.
What to try in Lucca
Local cuisine is based on ancient traditions preparing simple but tasty and original dishes. Let's name some of them. Garmucha- spring soup with onions, peas, artichokes, asparagus, green beans in beef broth, served with pieces of meat and brisket and toasted bread with olive oil. Matuffi- tender polenta (porridge made from corn flour) with meat sauce or mushrooms and Parmesan. Rovellina- thin slices of beef, fried and stewed in a sauce of tomatoes, capers and herbs. Fried baccala(dried cod) with chickpeas seasoned with olive oil, pepper and salt. Rabbit in sauce made from onions, garlic, tomatoes, olives, red peppers and herbs. Pork with chestnut flour polenta, lamb with olives, trout from the Serchio River on a spit.
Vegetable casseroles are also an integral part of Lucca cuisine, using spinach, green beans, artichokes, cauliflower and chard. Vegetables are baked in the oven with bechamel sauce and egg yolks. Almost all dishes are seasoned with local, marked DOP.
Sweets lovers should pay attention to buccellato- sweet pie with raisins and anise, castagnaccio- chestnut flour pie with pine nuts and raisins, nechchi- pancakes made from chestnut flour with ricotta filling.
Sweet necchi. Photonellamiacucina. altervista. org
Guilt This area includes both white and red Montecarlo DOC and Colline Lucchesi DOC, as well as the aromatic herbal liqueur Biadina, which is also an excellent souvenir for tourists, since it is produced only in one place in the historical center of Lucca.
How to get to Lucca
By car: from Florence along the A11 Firenze-Mare motorway; from Genoa - take the A12 Genova-Rosignano motorway.
You can reach Lucca by train or bus from Florence, Pisa and Viareggio.
By plane: the nearest airport is Pisa - 30 km, Florence airport - 70 km, Rome airport - 350 km.
Attractions
Guide
Lucca – Big City in the Tuscany region, the center of the province of the same name. Situated on a small hill on the banks of the Serchio River. According to the latest census, Lucca has about 86 thousand inhabitants.
Lucca was founded by the Ligurian tribes in the center of the alluvial plain of the Serchio River - hence the name of the city, which means “swampy” in the local dialect. In 180 BC. The Romans, who became the masters of the city, re-planned it at their own discretion, laying the perpendicular streets Cardo Maximus and Decumanus Maximus - these streets have been preserved in their outlines to this day, only today they are called Via Fillungo and Via Cenami. The ancient Roman forum has also been preserved - in its place the Piazza San Michele is now laid out.
During the Middle Ages, Lucca remained an important city because the roads to Rome, Parma, Florence and Pisa passed through it, as well as the main transport artery of Italy at that time, Via Francigena. Despite constant conflicts with neighboring city-states, Lucca prospered through banking and the production and sale of silk. The peak of its prosperity came in the 14th century, when Castruccio Castracani ruled the city, but already in the next century Lucca lost its status as the most important city in Tuscany, losing it to Florence. True, until the advent of the Napoleonic era (late 18th century), the city maintained a republican system, and for a long time was considered the second largest Italian city with this form of government (after Venice). In 1847, Lucca was annexed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and later shared the fate of other cities of the Apennine Peninsula, becoming part of a united Italy.
Lucca is one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Tuscany. The ancient fortress walls have been completely preserved here, from the top of which a charming view of the surrounding plains opens. In spring, these fields are painted in bright and rich colors, which gives Lucca a romantic flair.
Of the religious buildings, it is first worth visiting the Cathedral of San Martino, located on the square of the same name - it was founded in the 6th century and acquired its current appearance in the Middle Ages. Inside are works by Tintoretto, Ghirlandaio and Civitali. Near the cathedral there is a 14th-century baptistery, a 12th-century church of San Giovanni and a monument to Maria Luisa of Bourbon. Many small churches with lush sculptural decoration and high square bell towers have been preserved from the “golden age” of Lucca - the 14th century (Trecento). Their Gothic facades often hide more ancient walls and layouts. Another interesting temple– Basilica of San Frediano – is notable for the fact that it houses the relics of Saint Zita. And opposite the basilica is Piazza del Anfiteater.
The landmark of Lucca is the Casa Guinigi - two rows of brick buildings located on the street of the same name. It is here that the Torre Guinigi tower stands, on the upper platform of which oak trees grow, and behind the houses you can see the Church of Santa Maria Forisportam, attracting attention with its marble facade.
The highlight of Lucca is its ancient luxurious palaces and villas, of which there are incredibly many in the city. For example, the 17th-century Palazzo Mansi is notable for its lavish interiors and, in particular, for its carved Baroque alcove. Today, within its walls is the National Museum with a large collection of paintings ranging from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Palazzo Ducale, the creation of the great Ammannati, was built on the site of the Castruccio Castracani fortress, and Palazzo Pretorio was built in the 15th century according to the design of Civitali. Also worth visiting are Palazzo Bernardini, Palazzo Pfanner, Villa Guinigi with its archaeological and art museums and Villa Garzoni, famous for its park with a pond. Finally, the city has two museums dedicated to its great natives - the composers Giacomo Puccini and Luigi Boccherini.
And in the vicinity of Lucca you can go hiking in the Apuan Alps with a mandatory visit to the Oak of the Witches, which is more than 800 years old!
Lucca is famous as the birthplace of one of the best antique markets in Italy - on its shelves you can find hundreds of silver jewelry, costume jewelry, bronzes, antique carpets, furniture, books and many other things. You can find all these “treasures” every third weekend in almost all squares of the city. In addition, shopping lovers will enjoy a walk along Via Fillungo, along which there are boutiques of famous Italian brands.
Lucca is also rich in various festivals: in July there is a festival of pop and rock music, in August - the Puccini Festival, in September - a medieval festival and fair on the city walls, and in late October-early November - a comedian festival.
Lucca. Italy.
The city of Lucca is located in the Tuscany region, it is completely surrounded by a fortified wall and attracts tourists with its medieval atmosphere. Lucca is often called the city of towers and churches.
The founders of Lucca were most likely Ligurians. The name Lucca comes from the word "luck" - "bow" - marshy area.
In the 3rd century BC. The Romans came to Lucca, and the city became one of the largest military camps of the Roman Empire.
IN ancient times Lucca is famous for the fact that the meeting of the Triumvirate members: Caesar, Crassus and Pompey took place here.
In those days it was a rich and large city.
In the 13th century, Lucca became the largest shopping center Europe. Since 1440, the head of the local Signoria was Paolo Guinigi. At this time, Lucca reached its peak, but after the death of Guinigi it became an ordinary city.
The city is surrounded by a defensive ring - majestic city walls, the length of which is 4.2 km. The wall was erected in the 16th-17th centuries.
This is the only city in Italy completely surrounded by walls, which protected the city from floods.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the architect Lorenzo Nottolini transformed the walls into a wide boulevard, planted in several rows of magnificent plane trees.
Along the perimeter of the wall there are eleven bastions of different shapes and sizes. Two of them, called Torrione del Bastardo and the Bastion of San Martino, have survived to this day in the same form as they were built in the 16th century.
From the railway station we will walk along viale Regina Margherita left to piazza Risorgimento, the oldest of the three gates of the city are located here - Porta San Pietro(1565-1566), this is the only gate through which foreigners were allowed to enter Lucca. They performed the function of passport and customs control.
At Place Napoleon (piazza Napoleone) located Ducal (People's) Palace (Palazzo Pubblico - Palazzo Ducale).
The Ducal Palace, in which Elisa Bonaparte, the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, and her husband lived, was built architect Bartolomeo Ammanati in 1578-1582 and rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The palace houses an ancient library and an art gallery, and in the neighboring Manzi palace there is also an art gallery.
Urban layout preserved from the times of the Roman camp - two streets intersected in the city center - one running from north to south (cardo), the second from east to west (decumanus). Those. the city plan was a rectangle or square, intersected like a chessboard by streets running parallel to the cardo and decumanus.
IN Lucca streets running from north to south - Via Cenami (via Cenami) and via Fillungo (via Fillungo), as well as Via San Paolino (via San Paolino), via Roma (via Roma) and via Santa Croce (via S.Croce) divided from west to east Lucca into four parts. Near their intersection, a square square (castrum) is formed - Forum - Piazza San Michele in Foro (piazza di San Michele in Foro).
Here it is Church of San Michele in Foro.
The church was built on the site of an ancient Roman forum in the 12th century.
The shape of the cathedral copies the shape big ship, the border of which is supported by arches on monolithic marble columns. The exterior of the church is characterized by a high façade decorated with a marble statue of the Archangel Michael. They say that the ring on his finger is encrusted with a real diamond, a gift from a devoted parishioner. And indeed, when dusk falls over the city, then from a certain place in the square, if you look closely at the hand of the saint, you can notice an unusual brightly luminous point.
Next door to San Michele is the house where he was born Giacomo Puccini (Corte San Lorenzo, 8). The monument to the great Italian composer stands right there in a small square. In the 15th-century house you can see portraits of Puccini, costumes created for his operas, and the piano at which he composed his last, unfinished opera, Turandot.
Not far - small piazza di San Salvatore, also called Mercy Square. Here is the same name Church of San Salvatore. The strict form of the church dates back to the 12th century.
If we go along Via Roma and then along Via Fallungo, we will reach Market Square (Piazza del Mercato or Piazza dell "Anfiteatro).
The square is located on the site of a former Roman amphitheater; only a rich city could afford to build an arena for gladiator fights.
For centuries, the marble blocks of the amphitheater walls were used to build residential, commercial premises and workshops of artisans, but the original shape of the structure in the form of an oval has been preserved.
The low arched passages in the square are the gates through which animals and gladiators entered the arena.
Now this is the main one trade area Lucca.
Close to located Basilica of San Frediano.
This is the only church in the city built in the Romanesque style between 1112-1147. on the site of an older church.
Frediano was an Irish bishop Lucca in the first half of the 6th century, who founded a church here dedicated to Saint Vincent (San Vincenzo), a martyr from Zaragoza, Spain. When Frediano died and was buried in the same church, the church was named after Saints Frediano and Vincent (Ss. Frediano, Vincenzo) as a sign of respect for the bishop.
The façade of the church is decorated with a colorful mosaic of the Ascension of Christ. It can be seen that Christ ascends in a “magical egg.”
The inside of the basilica is richly decorated with white marble. It is worth paying attention to the Romanesque baptismal font (fountain lustral) from the 12th century by master Roberto. The font has an unusual shape and is decorated with marble figurines on biblical themes.
The tomb of San Frediano lies under the altar, which dates back to the 16th century.
In the chapel to the right of the altar there is Tomb of St. Zita.
Saint Zita was a popular saint in Lucca and rested forever in a glass coffin, over which angels hold a golden crucifix, and on the walls of the chapel are depicted episodes from her life. Saint Zita is considered the patroness of all domestic workers: lackeys, servants, waiters. A prayer is offered to her when keys or other household items are lost. 
Medieval tower Hours (Torre delle Ore). The first mentions of the tower date back to the 14th century, due to the fact that the first clock was installed on it. The clock did not have a dial and marked the arrival of midnight with a ringing sound.
A little further is Tower and Palace of Guinigi (Torre Guinigi). (via Sant'Andrea 45)
The Guinigi Palace and the tower of the same name are a stunning example of medieval architecture Lucca. The Guinigi Palace is not just a mansion, but a whole town of brick buildings with towers and arched windows, in which lived numerous relatives of the Guingi family, the most noble family of the city - Paolo Guinigi even ruled the city in the first half of the 15th century.
Currently only one remains Guinigi Tower- one of the symbols of the city. The tower was built in 1384, trees grow at a height of 44 meters and offers a magnificent view of the city.
How the mysterious oak trees ended up at a height of 44 meters is unknown; historians also find it difficult to name the exact date of planting of the mini-garden, but in the chronicles of the 15th century. the oak trees were already in this place.
Climbing the tower - 3 euros. TO observation deck 230 steps lead up.
Main church Lucca - Cathedral of San Martino (Duomo di San Martino), was built in the 6th century.
This is the first temple dedicated to Saint Martin. The cathedral was rebuilt several times; it acquired its modern appearance in the 12th-15th centuries.
Facade of the Cathedral Lucca- an excellent and attractive example of the Romanesque school of Pisan-Luccan architecture.
Around the central door is the life story of St. Martin.
At the entrance to the cathedral, on one of the pilasters on the right side, a faintly visible pattern is visible - "Labyrinth". Nearby there is an ancient inscription that says that this is “the same labyrinth that Daedalus built on Crete, from where anyone who enters will not be able to find a way out, except Theseus, who was saved by the love and thread of Ariadne.” They say that those sentenced to death were asked to find a way out of this schematic labyrinth the first time, and the one who could do this was given life. Such graphic symbols are also found in other Italian churches.
In the sacristy there is the sarcophagus of Ilaria del Carretto Guinigi by the famous master Jacopo Della Quercia.
Paolo Guinigi erected a sarcophagus to perpetuate the memory of his wife, who died at the age of 26. A small dog guards Ilaria's eternal sleep.
This tombstone is considered one of the most remarkable works of art kept in Lucca.
In the cathedral there is another work by the same master - a statue of John the Baptist.
In the center of the left nave is the Volto Santo Chapel (1484, designed by M. Civitali) - the Holy Face, where there is a unique wooden crucifix. According to ancient legend, the image of Christ was carved from Lebanese cedar by the evangelical Nicodemus under the guidance of angels.
Volto Santo is one of the symbols Lucca. For many centuries, the image has been a protective amulet that protects the city from misfortunes, and when the townspeople made long journeys, they took a copy of this crucifix with them.
Every year on September 13, a solemn procession takes place in his honor.
returning to Piazza Napoleone, where our route began, let’s pay attention to Church of Santi Giovanni and Reparata.
Before the construction of the Cathedral, the bishop sat here. The main part of the structure dates back to the 12th century, but more ancient elements have also been preserved. With the arrival of Napoleon the church was closed and reopened in 1828.
Frescoes from the 14th century have been preserved inside the church.
Lucca (Italy) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Lucca with descriptions, guides and maps.
City of Lucca (Italy)
Lucca is a city in Western Italy in the Tuscany region. Located on a plain in the valley of the Serchio River in the northwestern part of the region. Lucca - small charming city merchants and weavers, famous for its historical and cultural monuments, a well-preserved historical center and virtually intact 16th-century city walls. The climate is Mediterranean with dry and hot summers and cool, rainy winters.
Practical information
- Population - 89.4 thousand people.
- Area - 185.8 square kilometers.
- Language - Italian.
- Currency - euro.
- Visa - Schengen.
- Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
- The main shopping street Via Fillungo crosses historical Center from North to South. Here you can find various Italian designer stores such as: Missoni, Armani, Max Maria, etc.
- Only in Lucca can you try a special sweet bread in the form of a small baguette or bun flavored with anise and raisins. It's called Buccellato.
- Most local restaurants and many shops may be closed between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
- Bars and other similar establishments can be found in the areas of San Colombano, San Michele.
- In Lucca you can drink tap water.
Story
The settlement was founded by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. Although there is evidence that the Etruscans lived here before the arrival of the Romans. Interestingly, the layout of the old city and some streets has remained virtually unchanged.
During the Middle Ages, Lucca played an important role in trade, as routes from Rome, Florence, Parma and Pisa converged here. In the 8th century, the residence of the Lombard princes was located here. After the collapse of the Carolingian Empire, Lucca was the seat of the rulers of Tuscany until they moved to Florence in the 12th century.
IN later Middle Ages the city has not lost its significance. Lucca grew rich thanks to trade (especially the sale of silk) and artisans (weavers). In the 15th century, the city lost the regional palm to Florence. At the beginning of the 19th century, during the Napoleonic wars, Lucca became part of the principality, which belonged to Bonaparte's sister Eliza. After the defeat of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna, a duchy of the same name was formed, which in the mid-19th century became part of Tuscany.
How to get there
The nearest airport is Pisa, just 20 minutes away by train. However, there are no direct trains from the airport. You need to first get to Pisa, and then to railway station Lucca. Trains run every 30 minutes. Tickets cost just over 3 euros. Lucca is also on the Viareggio-Florence (Santa Maria Novella) line. Trains from the capital of Tuscany leave every hour. Tickets cost 7 euros.
Attractions
The most important attractions of Lucca.
Old city Lucca is very charming and interesting. Its main highlight is the chain of city walls, which is 4 km long. The city's fortifications had 11 towers and 6 gates. The walls are 12 meters high and up to 30 meters thick at the base. They were built by Flemish engineers in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Cathedral of St. Martina is a masterpiece of the Romanesque style. It was built in the 13th century on the site of an earlier church. The cathedral stands out for its beautiful columns and rich interior, to which many famous masters contributed. On the right is a massive 69-meter-high bell tower made of light travertine and brick. Inside the cathedral on the right is the famous stone sculpture of St. Martin and the Beggar, dating from the early 13th century. It is considered one of the best examples of Romanesque style in Lucca. Also notable in the interior are the 15th century Civitali pulpit, paintings by Ghirlandaio, the sculpture of John the Evangelist by Jacopo della Quercia and stained glass windows. In the left transept is the early 18th century tomb of Ilaria del Carretto and one of the main treasures of the cathedral - the Volto Santo, an image of Christ on the Cross.
On the north side of the cathedral is Piazza Antelminelli and a neoclassical fountain designed by Lorenzo Nottolini. The fountain is the end point of a monumental aqueduct running from the hills of Lucca. On the cathedral square you can also look at the palace and garden. Next to the palace is the church of Saints Giovanni and Reparata and the baptistery.
The Guinigi Tower is one of the symbols of Lucca, a tall tower in the very center of the old city with oak trees growing at its top. The tower is 44 meters high and can be climbed. The tower is part of two palaces built in the 15th century. Now they house National Museum.
Church of St. Michael's is a beautiful 13th century church with a marble facade, columns and an elegant bell tower. The interior of the church has retained its Romanesque character and contains many valuable works of art. Along the perimeter of the square of the same name there are ancient buildings made of stone and brick, and among them in the southwest the Prestorian palace of the Renaissance era stands out.
Not far from the church is big square, dedicated to Napoleon, where the Palazzo Ducale stands - the residence of rulers since the time of Castruccio. To the southwest is the Church of San Romano, built by the Dominicans in the 13th century. In the northeastern part of the square is the small church of San Giusto, built in the 12th century. In general, Lucca is rich in ancient sacred buildings.
San Frediano San Frediano is a beautiful 12th century basilica. Built on the site of an early 6th century church. The religious building has a beautiful interior and architecture that combines several architectural styles.
Not far from San Frediano is the ancient square of the Roman Amphitheater. This strange oval space is surrounded by multi-story buildings and was once the interior of a Roman arena. Interestingly, the buildings follow the contour of its massive stone walls and are built on their foundations. The amphitheater was built in the second century BC and was largely destroyed during barbarian invasions. Now its fragments lie several meters below street level.
