Lucca is a beautiful Medieval town only 20 minutes by car from Pisa. Passing San Giuliano Terme and a nice landscape with low mountains we arrived at the modern outside of the city. We finished up to the station in Piazza Ricazoli where we could park our car without a problem and walk into the center.
We entered the high and perfect city walls from Baluardo S. Colombino using the steps. On the top the walls have a long walkway which seems more a long park lane. On the other side there are steps again to go down to the street.
The huge cathedral of Lucca was just in front of us. Surrounding the backside we entered a tiny piazza lined with nice Medieval buildings.
The cathedral of St. Martin was begun in 1063 by Bishop Anselm. It has like many churches more architecture styles in it. The campanile (bell tower) and the apse with high and impressing columns are the original ones. The transepts were built only 400 years later in the Gothic style and the west front just two hundred years earlier.
I liked already the outside and was impressed by the rich work on the high columns. Entering there is a sign NOT to photograph but I asked inside and it is allowed without flash-light.
Not reading before about what to see inside I didn’t see the famous Volto Santo di Lucca (Sacred Countenance). Very beautiful is the tomb of Ilaria del Carretto built by Jacopo della Quercia.
There are more statues that are really great work and I liked much the arches on the top in the inner church.
Not overcrowded it was easy to walk and admire all this simple beauty.
We left the cathedral to walk in the Medieval streets. It seemed nearly to me to see people of that period here, with long gowns and funny shoes. But the people were all modern and Lucca is really well visited.
Lucca was founded by the Etruscans and was later a Roman colony where the first triumvirate was reaffirmed between Caesar, Pompeius and Crassus. An Irish monk named Frediano (there is still a church of his name just in front of the cathedral) was the very first bishop of Lucca.
For 500 years nearly Lucca was an independent republic and only Napoleon conquered the republic establishing his sister Elisa as Queen of Etruria. Then later it came to Tuscany and Italy.
In a church looking entrance there was a wine tasting we had a look at and then taking a nice cappuccino in Piazza San Michele. The tiny bar a woman indicated me seems to be famous not only for the big range of sweets and cakes but also because our Polish Pope once was here to have a coffee. There is still inside a photo hanging on the wall and the owner is proud of this honor of course.
Tiny little shops of the most famous stylists, cafeterias, cozy restaurants and much more are calling the tourists to come in. Of course we stopped as well in a few shops before arriving to the famous Guinigi tower with its hanging gardens.
It is one of a few remaining towers in the inner city walls. It was once of the Guinigi family which donated the tower to the city. Its characteristic are the hanging gardens. These are oak trees in huge trunks and they give the tower a funny look from far away.
We paid the entrance fee and walked up exactly 230 steps (I asked before). The wide stairs are not oppressing and from every floor there is an amazing view on the streets and later on the roofs of the city.
On the way back to the station and our car we passed another inviting pastry shop with great pastries in the vitrine. I don’t know all of them and would be curious to try them but they are traditional made with flour and a lot of sugar.
I loved to be in Lucca. It is definitely one of the finest Medieval cities and not over crowded – at least in early October. The Guinigi tower is a must go up and the walk in the streets takes time but is more than worth.
Pisa to Lucca, Tuscany, Italy:
For further information:
About Lucca
About Tuscany
