Tuscany: 10 reasons why you should also visit Lucca

A wow view of Lucca from above ^{_{Photo: stock.adobe.com/Giacomo}}

From our editorial team

The Italian way of life, without any stress - and with a city wall. And all this in the Tuscany.

Lucca doesn't have a cathedral that leaves you speechless. No view that goes through the roof on Instagram. And that is precisely its advantage. At first glance, the city seems reserved - almost closed off. But once you enter this system of walls, alleyways and squares, you realise that nothing is staged here. Lucca is a city with attitude, built of stone and history. Ten reasons why it's worth a visit:

1. a city wall that connects rather than divides

30 metres wide at the base, fully accessible, a good four kilometres long: Lucca's city wall is more than just a historical relic. Today, locals and visitors alike walk, jog and cycle along it - with views of treetops, church spires and medieval roofscapes. A walk in the countryside that goes round in a circle - and right into the heart of the city.

Lucca to click through

2. an old town with everyday sounds

The old town seems compact, almost crowded - but it is alive. There are no high-end boutiques in the narrow streets, but rather hardware stores next to mobile phone shops, with butchers, bakers and craftsmen in between. It smells of soap, espresso and faintly of scooters. Tourists walk through the everyday lives of the locals here - and that has become rare.

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3. the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro: oval, sloping, special

If you step through the narrow arch onto the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, you find yourself in a space that seems to have fallen out of time. The square follows the exact layout of a Roman amphitheatre - the curved shape, the slightly sloping façades and the asymmetrical openings create an atmosphere somewhere between an ancient echo and Tuscan life. Nothing is perfect here - but everything is genuine.

4. towers with a view and roots

The Torre Guinigi is Lucca's most curious landmark: a medieval brick tower with holm oaks on the roof. If you climb the 230 steps, you will find yourself above the rooftops - and under trees. Right next to it: the Torre delle Ore, the old clock tower with views as far as the Apuan Alps. No lift, no glass - just stone steps, wind and far-reaching views.

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5. churches that tell stories

Lucca's churches are not just magnificent buildings, but evidence of a city that has pragmatically combined art and faith. The Cathedral of San Martino looks massive, almost forbidding - and inside it houses the "Volto Santo", a mysterious crucifix that once attracted pilgrims from half of Europe. San Michele in Foro, on the other hand, stands in the centre of an old market square - like a Gothic ship with a marble bow wave.

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6 Puccini - and the life behind it

Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca. His birthplace is now a museum - less grand, more sober. It shows how a life began that later filled world stages with "La Bohème" and "Tosca". Lucca itself does not live on myth - but you can sense it when an aria rings out of a window somewhere in the evening.

7. a city for eating, without spectacle

Lucca eats well - but calmly. Trattorias serve tordelli lucchesi (stuffed dumplings with ragù), wild boar, farro soups and cakes with pine nuts. Via Fillungo, the bustling main street, is lined with cafés, bakeries and delicatessens - nothing dazzling, but plenty of substance. If you eat here, you eat the way people eat here.

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8 Less postcard, more reality

Lucca is not as shiny as Florencenot as dramatic as Siena. It is a city to arrive in, not to tick off. Those who can do without noise, queues and street performers will find a pleasantly normal city here. Tuscany - with history, but without kitsch.

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9. culture, but not on a platter

Lucca organises festivals, markets and concerts - but without the stage pathos. The famous Lucca Comics & Games, a comic and games fair, attracts a colourful audience once a year. There is also chamber music, organ concerts and jazz evenings - mostly in old courtyards, churches or gardens. Not a spectacle, but an atmosphere.

10. ideally located - but never in the shade

Lucca is close to Pisa, Florence and the Versilia coast. You can discover a lot from here - but you don't have to. Because if you get involved with the city, you don't need any day trips to begin with. Lucca is not a city that wants to please everyone. And that's exactly what makes it so interesting.

Links with further information:

• The official tourism website of Lucca
• The official Tuscany tourism page
• The comic and games fair Lucca Comics & Games