Lucca Italy. Lucca - history, museums, churches, attractions: what, where and how? National Museum of Villa Guinigi

This little-known city for the mass tourist is located 60 kilometers north of the capital of Tuscany - Florence. Currently, it is somewhat in the shadow of other famous Tuscan cities such as Siena, Pisa or Arezzo, but nevertheless, its visit is a must for anyone who wants to fully experience the Italian culture of the Renaissance.

Lucca (Italy) - attractions

The climate of Lucca is characterized by rather cool winters for Italy and very hot summers. The temperature in winter can often fall below zero, in summer it exceeds the thirty-degree mark. The city does not have its own airport, the nearest air terminals are located in Pisa (17 kilometers) and Florence (60 kilometers).

Luca is a city in Italy

It is connected with the north and center of Italy by the A11 high-speed toll highway, with the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea - by the A12 highway. In addition, you can get to Lucca by train from any of the Tuscan seaside resorts or from the same Florence and Pisa.

Interesting! Lucca (Italy) is the name of this city in Italian. However, the origin of this name is still unknown to scientists. They still do not have any intelligible versions or explanations for this name. According to one, it comes from the Latin lucus (sacred forest), according to the other - from the Celtic luk (swampy place). But there is no evidence for either theory.

The history of the city has more than two thousand years and one culture replaced another here. However, there are no monuments of Roman architecture preserved here. The only thing that reminds of the existence of a Roman amphitheater here is the square of the same name. Medieval buildings are closely packed along the perfectly oval perimeter of the square, as if pressed against each other. You can get there only through two opposite narrow streets. The shape of the amphitheater that once existed here is perfectly preserved, which makes this place one of the most interesting places for tourists to visit.

However, most of all in Lucca attractions related to the heyday of medieval Tuscan culture in Italy. Lucca, Tuscany in Italy is one of the most interesting places to visit.

Luca Italy

Architectural monuments

Immediately upon entering Lucca, a tourist encounters one of its main attractions - a medieval fortress wall built in the 16-17 centuries and preserved to this day almost intact. In one of its bastions there is one of the favorite cafes among local youth.

The city is small, you can easily get around it on foot in three to four hours. While walking through the historical center, it is worth seeing the brilliant monuments of the local baroque and rococo - the Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale), Palazzo Pfaner, Palazzo Mansi.

The latter houses the local art gallery, which displays, among others, works by such masters as Tintoretto and Veronese. In addition, the Palazzo Mansi admires the magnificent decoration of the palace, preserved from the 17th century, including the magnificent Hall of Music.

Important! You can visit the palace from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 and 14:30 to 16:30. Visitors are only allowed on organized tours. Ticket price - 4 euros*. Children under the age of 18 enter free of charge. You can book a visit online on the website.

Religious monuments

Cathedral (Duomo). Dedicated to Saint Martin, the cathedral was built by order of the bishop of San Frediano in the 6th century. Subsequently, it was rebuilt several times and acquired its final form in the 13th century. The Romanesque facade, decorated with three rows of different shapes and colors, was built in 1204 by the famous master Giudetto da Como and later decorated with magnificent lunettes by Lombard masters. Particularly interesting is the right one - depicting agricultural work for 12 months. Inside the cathedral is the most famous tombstone in the style of the early Tuscan Renaissance, made in 1405 by the famous master Jacopo della Quercia, on the grave of Ilaria del Carretta, wife of one of the rulers of the city, who died at a young age.

Church of San Michele in Foro. One of the most significant monuments of Pisano-Luccian architecture. Construction began in 1070 and completed in the 14th century. Romano-Gothic elements are harmoniously combined in the snow-white facade of the church, on top of which rises a marble-bronze statue of St. Michael the Archangel, made by an unknown Lombard master of the 14th century. Inside there is a painting by the famous Tuscan painter Andrea della Robbia "Madonna and Child".

Note! The opening hours of the churches are from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00 daily, except on Mondays when they are closed in the morning. The visit is free. There is no hard dress code. If you visit the cathedral in slippers and shorts, no one will be expelled. At the same time, it is necessary to observe the generally accepted norms of decency. At the entrance, the visitor can take free booklets with descriptions of the main attractions (including in Russian).

Among other interesting places to visit in Lucca is the house where the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini was born and spent his youth. Despite some changes that have taken place during this time, the atmosphere in which the musician lived has generally been preserved. Opening hours: June-August - from 10:00 to 18:00 (Tuesday-Sunday), September-June from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00 (Tuesday-Sunday). The entrance is free.

Surroundings of Lucca

Several interesting excursions can be made in the vicinity of Lucca. One of the most interesting is a tour of the villas of the local nobility. During the trip, which will take 4-5 hours, it is possible to get acquainted with the country residences of the Lucian dukes, counts and other nobles built in the 16-18 centuries, which have survived to this day with large parks and colorful gardens in the spirit of Tuscan park architecture of the 17th century. Opening hours - from 10:00 to 19:00 May-September (Tuesday-Sunday) and from 10:00 to 18:00 October-April (Tuesday-Sunday). The entrance is free.

Altar of the Duomo Cathedral

The second excursion, to the town of Collodi, located 30 kilometers from Lucca, is intended for children. It was there that the author of the book about Pinocchio, writer Carlo Collodi, was born. Now in the city there is a theme park for children dedicated to this literary character and the Collodi Butterfly House, where you can observe over 500 species of exotic butterflies in their real habitat. Opening hours daily from 10:00 to sunset. The entrance is free.

Shopping in Lucca

Lucca is rightly considered one of the main Italian centers for the production of leather bags and leather goods. Along the busiest shopping street in the city (via Fillungo) there are many shops selling exclusively local leather goods. All of them are of high quality and originality, allowing you to stand out from the mass of goods produced by well-known brands. Payment is accepted exclusively in euros in cash or by bank cards (Visa, Master).

Lucca, city in Italy, map

Lucca is a cozy Italian town that is worth a visit to admire the outstanding sights and take a break from the daily hustle and bustle.

*Prices are current as of September 2018.

Sights of Lucca. The most important and interesting sights of Lucca - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, sites.

Tours for May to Italy
Hot tours Worldwide

All All Architecture Museums Nature Religion

the very best

Cathedral of San Martino

Lucca, Piazza Antelminelli

The construction of the cathedral in Lucca was begun in 1063 by Bishop Anselm (later Pope Alexander II). This Roman Catholic cathedral is an outstanding architectural masterpiece, although somewhat heterogeneous in appearance due to age and numerous improvements.

the very best

National Museum of Palazzo Mansi

Lucca, Via Galli Tassi, 43

Like the National Museum of Villa Guinigi, this museum occupies an old rich mansion, where in the first half of the 20th century. part of the general collection of the National Museum of Lucca was moved from the Palazzo Pubblico. The beautiful building of the Palazzo serves as a reminder of the centuries-old history of the noble Mansi family.

The most attractive part of Lucca for tourists can be considered the medieval part of the city - that is, everything that is surrounded by an old protective wall. If you follow the historical chronology when visiting the city, then you should start with the Roman amphitheater, which is located on Via Fillungo (the main entrance from Piazza Scarpellini). True, you will not see an amphitheater as such here. Medieval houses grew exactly where the audience stood thousands of years ago. And its arena is still used today as a concert venue (once Van Morrison and The Eagles performed here).
The Cathedral of San Martino, built in the 14th century, is a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture. Not only does it look great from the outside, but it also houses a wealth of priceless historical and cultural treasures inside. Look at the famous crucifix, which, according to legend, was carved from wood by a contemporary of Jesus Christ, Nicodemus, and the sarcophagus of Illaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia.
Be sure to find an image of the Cretan labyrinth on one of the columns of the portico of the cathedral: it, apparently, is even older than the similar one in Chartres Cathedral (France).
The Guinigi Tower is also one of the must-see attractions in Lucca. Actually, you need to look not at the tower, but from it at the city. It is extremely pleasant to do this, even despite the abundance of people who always hustle at the top: firstly, oak trees were planted on the top of the tower about 400 years ago, giving shade, and secondly, the view itself is mesmerizing. It's definitely worth the 230 steps. The second tower you can climb in Lucca is the Clock Tower with the original clock still in operation. From here you will see the beautiful vista of Fillungo Street.
Fillungo Street is the main street in Lucca. It is full of bars, shops and other things that are so sweet to the heart of a tourist.
A single ticket gives you the opportunity to climb both towers at a discount, but they are located in different parts of the city.
Lucca abounds with beautiful churches, each of which is special. The Church of St. Michael the Archangel is located in the center of the former Roman forum, and it is decorated with an amazing facade with numerous relief columns, which can be viewed for at least an hour in a row (with good optics). The Basilica of San Frediano is distinguished by a monumental gilded mosaic at the very top, on the facade. Church of St. Alexander - the most modest of all, neoclassical, but it will be of great interest to all who are passionate about history and architecture.
Amazing Palazzo Pfanner: in the building itself, only a few rooms are open for inspection, but the gardens can arouse admiration even among those who are completely indifferent to gardening.
Palazzo
The wonderful Palazzos of Lucca are also not to be missed. Between Villa Mansi and Villa Guinigi in the 20th century. The art collection of the National Museum of Lucca was distributed. At the same time, most of the objects of the collection are exhibited in the second mansion, while the first is mainly a museum-like dwelling of a noble and wealthy family. Amazing Palazzo Pfanner: in the building itself, only a few rooms are open for inspection, but the gardens on its territory can arouse admiration even among those who are completely indifferent to gardening.
The latter fully applies to the terraced gardens of Villa Garzoni. This stunning former estate is located, however, not in Lucca itself, but almost on the very border of the province of Lucca. The gardens were created in the middle of the 17th century. next to the old castle, and they have, among other things, the most beautiful "water garden" at the foot of the hill, under the rows of balustrades.

Lucca is one of the 4 Italian cities where the fortress wall of the 16th century has completely survived, and the only city where people have adapted it for life, turning it into a park. Walk along the medieval streets of Lucca, climb the towers, sit in a cafe on the square, feel the ancient spirit of the city.

Lucca Photo Leigh Trail

Lucca is a city of towers, luxurious palazzos and temples of the Trecento era, one of the most romantic corners of Tuscany. Behind the stone walls of its old center, a leisurely patriarchal life flows.

5 things to do in Lucca

Get to know Lucca by walking along the ancient ramparts that surround the Old Town, which today have turned into a park.
Gain strength and patience to climb the observation deck of the 44-meter tower of Guinigi. There, standing in the shade of the "oak grove", enjoy the panorama of the city.
To honor the memory of the great composer Giacomo Puccini, a native of Lucca, by standing near his monument. Go to the museum to see the scores, letters, personal belongings and the musician's famous piano, with which Turandot was written.
Drink coffee and stare at passers-by, sitting in a cozy cafe on the square, built on the site of an ancient Roman amphitheater.
Make sure that the building of the church of San Michele in Foro really looks like a ship. Admire and appreciate the beauty and originality of openwork loggias.

When is the best time to go

Lucca is located in the Tuscan Riviera, among the wooded hills, at the foot of the Pisan Mountains and the Apuan Alps. The city stands on the Serchio River, surrounded by a marshy, wet valley. The climate in winter is moderately warm, humid: it mostly rains in November. Summer is dry and hot, with minimum precipitation in July. Average annual temperature +14.4°C; in July-August the temperature reaches +28–29°C, in January the thermometer drops to +2°C.

Spring (April-May) is the best time to visit Lucca. The city is waking up, everything around is blooming, the heat has not yet set in, prices for hotels and services have not yet increased.

sights

Botanical Garden

Fortress wall

Cathedral of St. Martin

Church of St. John and Reparata

Lily Theater

Church of St. Michael in the Forum

Puccini House Museum

Palazzo Mansi Museum

Clock tower

Guinigi tower

Amphitheater Square

Basilica of St. Fridian

Fortress wall

The old center of Lucca is surrounded by a fortress wall (Mura di Lucca) about 4.5 km long with 11 bastions, 6 external and 3 internal gates. It was built for defense against external enemies and protection from the waters of Serchio, advancing on the city. In the 19th century, the wall was planted with plane trees. Today, when viewed from above, it looks like a green velvet necklace wrapping around the city. This is the main park of the city with bike paths and walking alleys. Restaurants are open in the former bastions, street cafes work at the top. Mura di Lucca often serves as a backdrop for concerts and street performances.

Amphitheater Square

Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, photo [email protected]

The ensemble of the Amphitheater Square (Piazza dell'Anfiteatro) was built on the site of a Roman amphitheater of the 2nd century. The oval space, which has retained the shape of the ancient arena of gladiator fights, is surrounded by Renaissance buildings. 4 gates lead to the square.

Clock tower

Clock Tower (Torre delle ore), photo by Graham Tiller

The main sign of Lucca is watchtowers and church campaniles: here and there they rise among the tiled roofs. In the XIV century there were 250 such structures, only 130 have survived, many are equipped with viewing platforms.

The highest is the 50-meter Clock Tower (Torre delle ore) (XIII century) with a belfry and a clock installed in 1754.

Guinigi tower

Guinigi Tower (Torre Guinigi), photo by Joe Lewit

A unique building is the Romanesque-Gothic tower of Guinigi (Torre Guinigi) (1384). On top of this 44-meter building, holm oaks were planted in the 15th century. The trees are still growing.

Cathedral of Saint Martin

Cathedral of St. Martin (Cattedrale di San Martino) - a Gothic temple with a quadrangular bell tower, was founded in the VI century; acquired its present form in the 11th century. Its façade, renovated in the 13th century, has amazing columns. There are no two identical ones among them: each is decorated with unique carvings, reliefs, and inlays. Inside, there are paintings by Ghirlandaio and Tintoretto, Bartolomeo, Allori, sculptures by Giambologna and Civitali, a marble tomb by Jacopo Querch.

Church of Saints John and Reparata

Church of Saints John and Reparata (Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata), photo by emzepe

On the square of San Giovanni (Piazza San Giovanni) stands the church of St. Reparata and next to it is the baptistery of St. John. The temples were built at the end of the 12th century. on the site of the sanctuary of the ancient era (5th century). The complex of buildings of the Church of St. John and the Martyr Reparata (Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata) combined the features of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque architecture. Under it, archaeologists have found the remains of ancient baths, an early Christian church and a crypt from the time of the Lombards.

St. Michael's Church in the Forum

Basilica of San Michele in Foro (Chiesa di San Michele in Foro), photo by Gregory

The Church of San Michele in Foro (Chiesa di San Michele in Foro) is a temple in the Romano-Lombard style with 4 rows of openwork loggias. It was built in the XII century on the site of the ancient forum, where in the VIII century. there was an older church. The building resembles a huge ship, on the rostra of which stands a 4-meter figure of the Archangel Michael framed by two angels.

Basilica of Saint Fridian

Basilica of St. Fridian (Basilica di San Frediano), photo Richard Barrett-Small

The Basilica of Saint Fridian (Basilica di San Frediano) was founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 12th century in the Lombard style. Above the portal is a Byzantine mosaic. Inside there is a Romanesque round marble font with skillful bas-reliefs from the life of the prophet Moses. The relics of Saint Zita are buried in San Fridiano.

Villa Torrigiani

Villa Torrigiani, photo by Elena Battini

Villa Torrigiani is a prime example of secular baroque in Tuscany. Built in the 16th century for the Bonvisi family, reconstructed by order of the Marquis Nicolao Santini (ambassador of the Republic of Lucca at the court of Louis XIV) on the model of the palaces of Versailles.

Lily Theater

The Lily Theater (Teatro del Giglio), founded in 1672, has gone through several rebuildings. The ruler of Tuscany, Marie-Louise Bourbon, named it after the flower emblem of the Bourbon dynasty. Today, the theater hosts symphonic music concerts and dance programs; ballet, opera and drama performances.

National Museum of Villa Guinigi

The Museum of Villa Guinigi (Museo nazionale di Villa Guinigi) on Via della Quarquonia contains architectural and sculptural exhibits, fossil finds, paintings of the 13th-18th centuries.

Museum in Mansi Palace

Museum of the Palazzo Mansi (Museo di Palazzo Mansi), photo by sailko

The Museo di Palazzo Mansi is the National Museum and the Pinacothek. In the Renaissance Mansi Palace, the original furnishings of the 16th-18th centuries have been preserved. Antique fabrics, tapestries, weaving devices are exhibited here; The National Pinakothek was opened with a collection of paintings by Leopold II Duke of Tuscany. The collection includes works by Tintoretto, Titian, Veronese.

Puccini House Museum

Monument to Giacomo Puccini next to the house where the musician was born (Casa Natale di Giacomo Puccini), photo vincenzo baldassarre

The Giacomo Puccini Museum House (Puccini Museum) is located on Corte San Lorenzo 9. The composer was born in it on December 22, 1858, spent his childhood and youth. In the museum you will see Puccini's personal belongings, the originals of his letters and scores, the piano used to write the opera Turandot.

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden (Orto botanico comunale di Lucca), photo fabcom

The Botanical Garden (Orto botanico comunale di Lucca) was founded by decree of Marie-Louise, Duchess of Lucca in 1820. About 200 species of plants are planted on 2 hectares, there is a pond where mystical shows "Murabilla" take place in autumn.

History paragraph

View of the city, photo by Marian Bulacu

The city was founded by the Etruscans in 218 BC. e. After 40 years, the Romans occupied the settlement, completely destroying it and rebuilding it. The empire fell under the onslaught of the Goths, then came the Lombards, the Franks. After the fall of the Carolingians, Lucca became the capital of the Tuscan march. From 1378 until the arrival of Napoleon, it was an independent republic. After the expulsion of the Bonapartes, Lucca belonged to the Duchy of Tuscany, then to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Since 1861 it has become part of a unified Italy.

On July 11–12, the city honors its patron saint, Saint Peacock. The Palio di San Paolino opens with a parade with banners. The most striking event is the tournament of crossbowmen.

Lucca hosts the Lucca Summer Festival in July. It takes place in the open air on Napoleon Square.

In August - the international Puccini Festival (Festival Puccini).

September 13-14 - the main religious holiday - the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Residents come to venerate the relic - the Holy Face, the crucifix, which is kept in the Cathedral. Believers of all city parishes take part in the procession with candles.

Every year at the turn of October - November, Lucca hosts the International Comics Festival (Lucca Comics and Games). Since 1993, he has also covered the subject of computer games and simulations. For 4 days, the festival brings together the leading masters of the genre and many tourists.

Cuisine and restaurants

The local cuisine is simple and delicious. Among the soups popular spring soup Garmucha with peas, onions, asparagus, artichokes, green beans in beef broth with pieces of meat and brisket. Try matuffi - cornmeal porridge with mushrooms and parmesan or meat sauce. Traditional second courses: Rovellina (rovellina) - beef, cut into thin slices, fried and stewed in a sauce of tomatoes, capers and herbs; pork with chestnut flour polenta; rabbit in a sauce of tomatoes, red peppers, olives, onions and garlic, herbs; fried goat with artichokes; trout from the Serchio river on a spit; dried cod (bakkalà), fried with chickpeas; vegetable casseroles using cauliflower, green beans, spinach, artichokes and beets.

If you have a sweet tooth, try buccellato (buccellato), a sweet cake with raisins and anise; necci (chestnut flour pancakes stuffed with ricotta); castagnaccio - chestnut flour cake with pine nuts and raisins.

For wines, taste the white and red Montecarlo DOC and Colline Lucchesi DOC, as well as the herbal liqueur Biadina, which is produced only in Lucca.

Traditional Tuscan cuisine can be enjoyed at Trattoria da Leo (Via Tegrimi 1). The best place to eat is Forno A Vapore Amedeo Giusti (Via Santa Lucia 18/20). Locanda Eremo del Gusto (Via Gelli 35/37 - Petrognano - Capannori) is known for its splendid city views. Caffè di Simo (Via Fillungo, 58) serves the best breakfast (cappuccino + cornetto for €3-4) in an Art Nouveau interior. The Buca di Sant'Antonio restaurant (Via Cervia, 3) offers gourmet cuisine. For dinner, head to Vineria I Santi in Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, 17 or Vecchia Trattoria Buralli in Piazza Sant'Agostino, 10.

shopping

On the main shopping street of Lucca, photo by mikewinburn

Every third weekend of the month, antique markets open in many squares of the city, which are considered the best in Italy.

Via Fillungo is Lucca's main shopping street with Max Mara, Armani, Missoni boutiques, simple shops and souvenir shops.

The Enoteca Vanni store (Piazza del Salvatore 7) offers a rich selection of Italian wines that you can taste before buying.

Not far from the city is the Migliarino Natural Park (Parco naturale di Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli). On its territory there are different ecosystems - from wetlands to sand dunes. Its central part is occupied by a protected area of 5,000 hectares - San Rossore. Rare birds, ungulates live there. The park complex includes the picturesque Lake Massaciuccoli - a well-equipped recreation area where you can relax, ride a boat.

This wooden crucifix was carved from Lebanese cedar by the gospel Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin and a secret disciple of Christ. Together with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus removed the body of Jesus from the Cross. When Nicodemus decided to make an image of the crucified Christ, he ran into a difficulty: he could not reproduce the facial features of Jesus. however, the Face appeared miraculously thanks to angelic help, as stated in some versions of the legend. The crucifix is the main relic of Lucca.

I liked to look at the faces of the people accompanying the Holy Face, here each participant is carefully written out and with his own individual character. True, for this I had to sacrifice a coin to turn on the lighting in the dark chapel.

The most shocking detail of the interior is St. Zita. The mummified saint looks very creepy, just like. I will quote the wiki

Zita was born in 1212 in the village of Monsagrati, near the city of Lucca, Tuscany. At the age of 12, she began to serve in the Fatinelli family home. For a long time, employers overloaded the girl with work, often beat her. However, the continuous bad attitude towards Zita did not deprive her of her inner peace and tranquility. Zita endured bullying humbly, which, in the end, softened the attitude of the owners and colleagues towards her [colleagues, Giuseppe! who wrote this article?] at work. Zita's constant piety and patience led the Fatinelli family to Christian conversion. Zita considered her work a calling from God and an element of personal repentance.

After her death, members of this family began to venerate Zita as a saint. In 1580, her body was exhumed and it turned out that the relics of St. Zita were incorrupt. They were transferred to the Basilica of St. Fredian in the city of Lucca, where they are currently stored.

All three famous churches of Lucca impressed me, the best part is that they are located within a five-minute walk from each other, so even with a lack of time, it is quite possible to have time to see them in one sitting.

40. Amphitheater Square

In ancient times, Lucca was a rich city and could afford an arena for gladiator fights for ten thousand spectators. Over time, the Lucca Amphitheater was destroyed and built up with buildings. Now his arena rests at a depth of three meters under the square. But in the 19th century, the authorities decided to arrange a square on this site, repeating the shape of the Roman arena. This is how the picturesque and unusual in its oval shape Piazza dell "Anfiteatro" appeared.

I, as always, am beautiful, but since I saw my friend home in the morning, I had to capture myself in a mirrored window.

Lucca is a moderately touristy city, and I found the largest concentration of my fellows just on the Amphitheater Square. There is also the largest concentration of black brothers of traders of all sorts of nonsense.

On the outer side of the Amphitheater Square, in some places the remains of the upper tiers of the ancient arena have been preserved.

Lucca was just a balm for my weary soul trip. No, really, like, besides many interesting sights, there is a very pleasant atmosphere, a comfortable and prosperous city.

31. Guinigi Tower

In the Middle Ages, a whole "forest" of high residential towers rose above Lucca. They were built to decorate the city and demonstrate the wealth of the owner of the household. Now a similar landscape with towers can be seen, and in Lucca, in fact, only one tower has survived. The tower was built by the Guinigi family, who actually ruled Lucca at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. She left behind a rich residence with a 45-meter tower. It all ended with the fact that the last descendant of the Guinigi family transferred the tower to the ownership of the city.

The Guinigi were inventive builders: they decorated their tower with a hat of living green trees. On the upper platform of the tower there are boxes with earth, in which seven holm oaks grow. And from the top of the tower - just under the shadow of these very oaks - there is an excellent view of the whole city.

I decided that I must definitely climb the Guinigi tower, since the entrance there is quite inexpensive, three or four euros. While he was getting up, he looked into the windows of the houses of the Luccans (or how would a resident of Lucca be right?).

Clock tower and bell tower of San Frediano.

Amphitheater Square.

The clock tower is a little closer.

Those same famous oaks on the roof of the tower. First time I see this!

Duomo of Lucca.

Patios, it's amazing that there is so much greenery.

By and large, I have already bypassed the main sights of Lucca, but I decided to take a little walk around the city I liked.

The first column in Italy dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. in honor of the adoption in the 19th century of the corresponding dogma. But in Lucca, she appeared as much as 200 years earlier, when the Immaculate Conception had not yet become an official dogma.

Another fountain with the purest drinking water. Then I just ran out of water, I got in line for the seniors and also filled a bottle of local mineral water. The water tastes very good!

Gothic San Francesco of the 15th century.

This is not only a church, but also a monastery. I got through the open gate and took a short walk around the monastery courtyards.

Rear facade of the church of the Franciscan monastery.

Behind the monastery is a vast area. Not only were there no tourists here, but the locals, it seems, do not get to this area either.

I again climbed out onto the city wall, only in the opposite part from the station in the north of the city. I remind you that Lucca is one of the four cities in Italy where the wall surrounding the city has completely survived. However, it looks a little like a wall, rather a boulevard.

A traditional cat, without which it is impossible to make a normal report.

And once again I emphasize that Lucca is charming and nice even away from the tourist routes.

I have not shown even half of the churches of Lucca. Getting around them all in half a day is simply unrealistic. Masterpieces like this 12th-century Chiesa di Santa Maria Forisportam are everywhere. The church is interesting in that a sundial is installed inside, made according to the principle of a camera obscura. A small hole is punched in the wall, and at noon a ray of sunshine points to a certain place on the floor of the church.

Memorial plaque in honor of Blessed Gemma Galgani.

In 1899, when she was 20 years old, Gemma developed stigmata. She stated that she began to receive private revelations from the Virgin Mary, the guardian angel and other saints. At the request of her spiritual father, Gemma prayed for the end of these visions and the stigmata disappeared.

Living in poverty, Gemma became widely known for her holy life in the city of Lucca, but she did not find support for her spiritual life, meeting neglect and negative attitude towards her visions among relatives and the church hierarchy. In early 1903, Gemma contracted tuberculosis. During her short but fatal illness, she received various extraordinary mystical phenomena. At the beginning of Holy Week, her health deteriorated sharply and she died on Good Friday, April 11, 1903.

After Gemma's death, her spiritual father, who kept all her mystical experiences secret, wrote a detailed biography, publishing Gemma's personal diary and letters. Church authorities after the publication of Gemma's writings recognized the authenticity of her mystical life.

My walk around Lucca was not too long and took about three hours. The city is very compact, so this time was enough for me to get around the main attractions. All in all, Lucca is a great option for a half day trip from Florence.

Travel notes, day 5

Lucca is a small town in Tuscany, 20 kilometers from Pisa and not far from Florence. It takes only 20 minutes to get here from Pisa by train. This is the capital city of the province of the same name, to which it belongs, for example, where all our oligarchs live. But few people get to this beautiful city.

It is famous primarily for the well-preserved bastion-type fortress (it is considered the second largest in Europe) and for the fact that Gaius Julius Caesar and his comrades from the first triumvirate stopped by here. The streets of Lucca repeat the ancient Roman layout, and the Way of the Franks, an ancient pilgrimage route, also passed through the city.

01. The Polish train PESA runs from Pisa to Lucca.

02. In 20 minutes you comfortably reach your destination.

03.

04. And it takes literally 5 minutes to walk from the station to the fortress walls.

05. Fortress gates (gates of St. Peter). They were built in the 16th century during the reconstruction of the fortification.

06. They are carefully guarded by lions.

07. Beauty begins immediately behind the fortress walls! Wherever you look - everywhere a miracle and a fairy tale. If in other cities you need to look for some beautiful places, then in Lucca you need to try to find something ugly - and you will not find it!

08. The city is very green.

09. Cathedral of St. Martin. The first temple on this site was built in the 6th century, then it was rebuilt several times. The history of this particular building dates back to 1060.

10. Having bought a ticket, you can climb its tower.

11.

12.

13. In general, there are a lot of towers in Lucca, you have to climb everything on foot, and from all of them there is an amazing view.

14. On the left is the Clock Tower, the tallest of the medieval towers of Lucca. There are 130 of them in total, but not all of them are visible from the observation platforms.

15. A row of trees is a fortress wall on which plane trees are planted. You can walk on it.

16. Flea market near the cathedral (we will return to it later)

17. And this is the Gvinidzhi tower. But this is not the bell tower of the cathedral, but one of the first penthouses. That is, it is a residential tower with trees on the roof! A garden of evergreen oaks has been planted on the upper platform, and below it there used to be a kitchen. By the way, Gvinidzhi is not just another saint, but an influential family from Lucca, who built the tower. Such is the ancient Italian Trump Tower.

18. I have already climbed it. View of the cathedral, from the bell tower of which the previous shots were taken.

19.

20. Beauty!

21. Belfry of the Basilica of St. Fridiana.

22.

23. Can you tell me what century it is now?

24. In the middle is the bell tower of the church of San Michele

25. Apennines

26.

27. Narrow medieval streets are perfectly preserved in the city.

28.

29.

30.

31. Parking seems like a foreign element.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36. Public space)

37.

38.

39. Sometimes there are wrecks on the streets.

40.

41. Oval Square

42. Its other name is the Amphitheater Square. There really was once an ancient Roman amphitheater, then salt warehouses and even a prison, but in the 19th century the architects decided to return the square to its original form.