LUCCA TRAVEL GUIDE - Things to do and see in Lucca, Tuscany
Itinerary Lucca: Sightseeing tours - bike tours - day tours - wine tours

Lucca (in the ancient world: Luca) has about 85.379 inhabitants (as of December 31st, 2011), is located in Tuscany and is the capital of the province Lucca. It is located in the valley of the river Serchio about 20 km northeast of Pisa and about 20 km east of the Tuscan coast. 

 

Things to see in Lucca, Tuscany

Check our insider's travel guide to Lucca, featuring the best Events of Lucca, Night Live of Lucca and sightseeing tours to discover the stunning landmarks, markets, churches, museums and monuments of Lucca Tuscany.

 

  • Piazza dell Anfiteatro: This impressing elongate square, whose shape it owes to the circumjacent houses used to be a Roman amphitheater.
  • The cathedral San Martino dates back to the 6th century AD.
  • Torre Guinigi: The 44m high stone tower with century old durmast oaks on its top is the landmark of Lucca. 
  • San Frediano: This grand church was built in the 12th century on the remains of an older construction. 

 

Discover the marvelous countryisde of Lucca and Tuscany joining a grape harvest festival or olive harvest festival, taking a bicycile tour in Tuscany visiting one of the nature parks or follow up our tracking itinerary.

 

Typical cuisine of Lucca, Tuscany

Indulge your passion for Italian food or life style on a cookery holiday combined with language courses in Lucca Tuscany and enjoy our hands-on cooking lessons and cookery courses in Tuscany Lucca.

The olive oil from Lucca is exceptionally fine and therefore world famous. Due to its excellent quality the olive oil from Lucca has been awarded several prices. Among the “Antipasti” there are different soups like the „Garmucia“ ( a soup made from artichokes, peas, thick beans and asparagus).

 

Local specialties are the pork chops, roast pork with chestnut polenta, lamb with olives, thrush on a spit and grilled trouts from the Serchio river.

 

Desserts are: The “Buccellato”, a typical cake in ring form, the “Castagnaccio”, a fancy cake from chestnut flour and the “Necci”, also made from chestnut flour. 

 

Among the tasty local wines the white and red Montecarlo stand out; yet also very tasty is the “Biadina”, a classical liquor from Lucca. 

 

 

Are you planing a day trip to Lucca or to the tuscany countryside? Please check our travel guide for the best restaurants in Lucca, wine tasting courses or selected wine tours discovering the most famous tuscan wineries of the Chianti or the Brunello region guided by a certified Tuscan wine sommelier.

 

Events of Lucca, Tuscany

Luminaria di Santa Croce – annual torch procession on September 13th.

 

Palio della Balestra – on July 12th Lucca revives the tradition of crossbow shooting at Piazza San Michele. 

 

Festa di Santa Zita – in end of April Lucca organizes a large flower market in honor of the charitable saint.  

 

Giacomo Puccini Festival – enthusiasts of the opera can look forward to this open air festival. In the months July and August the operas of Puccini are staged on the stage at the Lago di Massaciuccoli. 

 

Summer Festival Lucca Openair: various live acts with many famous musicians. 

 

Things to do in Lucca, Tuscany

If you want deeply to relax and re-charge all your energies a Spa journey would be perfect within your Lucca or Tuscan holiday. Tuscany has many natural hot springs. In most towns there is a modern spa where hot springs water is brought into a swimming pool and you pay a daily ticket to use the pool.

 

Near the city you can find beautiful paths for excursions, hikes and all kinds of sports activities.

 

The Versilia coastline is a popular tourist destination thanks to its enchanting landscape, the lush vegetation and its romantic villages.

 

Viareggio with its famous carnival, its beaches and the nightlife.

 

Forte dei Marmi with branches of all notable designers.

 

Pietrasanta with its art treasures.

 

Camaiore with its Romanesque edifices.

 

Carrara with its world famous marble stone pits.

 

The Serchio valley and the Garfagnana with its picturesque villages like Borgo a Mozzano, famous for the bold devil’s bridge. (Ponte del Diavolo)

 

Barga, a charming medieval village.

 

Castelvecchio Pascoli, the house of the great poet Pascoli.

 

Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, with its cathedral and the fort.

 

On the coast you can spend your time on the beach or doing water sports, but you can also go on bicycle tours or go horseback riding in the comfortably fresh pine forests. 

 

Grotte del Vento, an underground cave with exceptional stalactite formations.

 

Thermal springs of Bagni di Lucca – cures and wellness treatments.

 

 

Holiday in Lucca or Tuscany countryside

The Coast line of Tuscany offers many splendid white beaches. A guide to Tuscany's best beaches with reviews and what to do when you're there, chosen by our local experts.

 

Our portfolio of hand picked rental villas with pool, holiday houses, romantic country houses and cottages, apartments or rooms for rent with a view in Tuscany offers you authentic, charming and private accommodation for a unique holiday experience.

 

No matter if you favor family holidays, beach holidays, golf holidays, luxury holidays or a pet friendly accommodation, we have the best private rentals in Tuscany available for you!

 

 

Oddities

The tower "Torre Guigni" is part of an impressive construction of the Guinigi family, wealthy and powerful traders that lived in Lucca in the 14th century, and the tower is now the only remnant of the 250 towers, which peaked above the roofs of this city during the Middle Ages. The top of this 44,25 meter high tower today consists of a roof garden with centuries-old durmast oaks.

 

History

The ancient Etruscan Lucca in the valley of the river Serchio was first mentioned in 180 BC. Back then Lucca was founded at the same time as Pisa (also 180 BC ) and Luna ( 177 BC) as a Roman colony. Around 1160 the city was transcribed the rule over a territory around the city from the Bavarian duke and the Tuscan margrave Welf VI against a toll.

 

The wealth and influence of the city Lucca in the 13th century based largely on the textile industry. Amongst other Lucca was famous for its silk, as its rich coloring was considered unmatched in Europe. Due to the military power of the victorious French revolutionary armies that ended the Austrian rule in Italy, the republic of Lucca was forced to introduce a modern “democracy” (1799/1800) according to the French model and in complete dependency from Napoleon Bonaparte’s France. (Luccan Republic)

 

In the course of the overthrow of Napoleon in 1814 Lucca was for a short time occupied by Neapolitan and later Austrian troops. Since then the duchy is a part of Tuscany, with which it first joined Sardinia in the course of the Risorgimento 1859/61 and later the new centralized state Italy.

 

Economy

In earlier times Lucca experienced a period of wealth and fame due to the production and trade of silk. Today the local economy profits from the crafts and the large touristic afflux.

 

Climate

The climate in Lucca is warm and temperate. In the course of the year, July is the warmest month with an average temperature of 23,1 ° C. The coldest month of the year is with an average temperature of 6,3 ° C January.

 

Arrival to Lucca

Car

Lucca is located conveniently at the interchange A12/A11. Heading northwards the A12 leads in direction Genoa ( 160 km), going westwards you reach Florence with the A 11 (75 km) and southwards the A 12 takes you to Livorno (45 km). A wonderful avenue takes you to Pisa ( 25 km).

 

Train

Lucca is located at the railway line Florence – Viareggio and furthermore it offers a connection to Pisa. The train station of Lucca is located only a couple meters outside the town wall. 

 

Airport

The nearest international airport is Pia Galileo-Galilei (PSA). Shuttle busses go back and forth between the airport and the train station “Pisa Centrale”. A little further, yet well connected with trains, is the airport Florence. 

 

Lucca local transportation

C.L.A.P. Bus

Piazzale Verdi - tel. 0583 587897 

800602525 

 

LAZZI Bus

Piazzale Verdi - tel. 0583 584876 

 

RADIOTAXI 

Via C. Battisti, 5 

tel. 0583 955200/ 955241/ 955268 

 

TAXI 

Piazza Santa Maria - tel. 0583 494190 

Piazzale Verdi - tel. 0583 581305 

Piazza Napoleone - tel. 0583 316041 

Via Barbantini, 617 - tel. 0583 950623 

Piazzale Ricasoli (Stazione FF.SS) - tel. 0583 494989

 

Train station Lucca 

Piazza Ricasoli 

Info 848 - 888088 

0583 467013 

0583 47013 

0583 492711

 

Bicycle rental

Poli Antonio Bikes

Address: Piazza S.Maria, 42 -  Lucca

Telephone: 0583 493787

 

Bizzarri Bikes

Address: Piazza S.Maria, 32 -  Lucca

Telephone: 0583 496031

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Lucca
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Lucca

LUCCA TRAVEL GUIDE - Things to do and see in Lucca, Tuscany
Itinerary Lucca: Sightseeing tours - bike tours - day tours - wine tours

Lucca (in the ancient world: Luca) has about 85.379 inhabitants (as of December 31st, 2011), is located in Tuscany and is the capital of the province Lucca. It is located in the valley of the river Serchio about 20 km northeast of Pisa and about 20 km east of the Tuscan coast. 

 

Things to see in Lucca, Tuscany

Check our insider's travel guide to Lucca, featuring the best Events of Lucca, Night Live of Lucca and sightseeing tours to discover the stunning landmarks, markets, churches, museums and monuments of Lucca Tuscany.

 

  • Piazza dell Anfiteatro: This impressing elongate square, whose shape it owes to the circumjacent houses used to be a Roman amphitheater.
  • The cathedral San Martino dates back to the 6th century AD.
  • Torre Guinigi: The 44m high stone tower with century old durmast oaks on its top is the landmark of Lucca. 
  • San Frediano: This grand church was built in the 12th century on the remains of an older construction. 

 

Discover the marvelous countryisde of Lucca and Tuscany joining a grape harvest festival or olive harvest festival, taking a bicycile tour in Tuscany visiting one of the nature parks or follow up our tracking itinerary.

 

Typical cuisine of Lucca, Tuscany

Indulge your passion for Italian food or life style on a cookery holiday combined with language courses in Lucca Tuscany and enjoy our hands-on cooking lessons and cookery courses in Tuscany Lucca.

The olive oil from Lucca is exceptionally fine and therefore world famous. Due to its excellent quality the olive oil from Lucca has been awarded several prices. Among the “Antipasti” there are different soups like the „Garmucia“ ( a soup made from artichokes, peas, thick beans and asparagus).

 

Local specialties are the pork chops, roast pork with chestnut polenta, lamb with olives, thrush on a spit and grilled trouts from the Serchio river.

 

Desserts are: The “Buccellato”, a typical cake in ring form, the “Castagnaccio”, a fancy cake from chestnut flour and the “Necci”, also made from chestnut flour. 

 

Among the tasty local wines the white and red Montecarlo stand out; yet also very tasty is the “Biadina”, a classical liquor from Lucca. 

 

 

Are you planing a day trip to Lucca or to the tuscany countryside? Please check our travel guide for the best restaurants in Lucca, wine tasting courses or selected wine tours discovering the most famous tuscan wineries of the Chianti or the Brunello region guided by a certified Tuscan wine sommelier.

 

Events of Lucca, Tuscany

Luminaria di Santa Croce – annual torch procession on September 13th.

 

Palio della Balestra – on July 12th Lucca revives the tradition of crossbow shooting at Piazza San Michele. 

 

Festa di Santa Zita – in end of April Lucca organizes a large flower market in honor of the charitable saint.  

 

Giacomo Puccini Festival – enthusiasts of the opera can look forward to this open air festival. In the months July and August the operas of Puccini are staged on the stage at the Lago di Massaciuccoli. 

 

Summer Festival Lucca Openair: various live acts with many famous musicians. 

 

Things to do in Lucca, Tuscany

If you want deeply to relax and re-charge all your energies a Spa journey would be perfect within your Lucca or Tuscan holiday. Tuscany has many natural hot springs. In most towns there is a modern spa where hot springs water is brought into a swimming pool and you pay a daily ticket to use the pool.

 

Near the city you can find beautiful paths for excursions, hikes and all kinds of sports activities.

 

The Versilia coastline is a popular tourist destination thanks to its enchanting landscape, the lush vegetation and its romantic villages.

 

Viareggio with its famous carnival, its beaches and the nightlife.

 

Forte dei Marmi with branches of all notable designers.

 

Pietrasanta with its art treasures.

 

Camaiore with its Romanesque edifices.

 

Carrara with its world famous marble stone pits.

 

The Serchio valley and the Garfagnana with its picturesque villages like Borgo a Mozzano, famous for the bold devil’s bridge. (Ponte del Diavolo)

 

Barga, a charming medieval village.

 

Castelvecchio Pascoli, the house of the great poet Pascoli.

 

Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, with its cathedral and the fort.

 

On the coast you can spend your time on the beach or doing water sports, but you can also go on bicycle tours or go horseback riding in the comfortably fresh pine forests. 

 

Grotte del Vento, an underground cave with exceptional stalactite formations.

 

Thermal springs of Bagni di Lucca – cures and wellness treatments.

 

 

Holiday in Lucca or Tuscany countryside

The Coast line of Tuscany offers many splendid white beaches. A guide to Tuscany's best beaches with reviews and what to do when you're there, chosen by our local experts.

 

Our portfolio of hand picked rental villas with pool, holiday houses, romantic country houses and cottages, apartments or rooms for rent with a view in Tuscany offers you authentic, charming and private accommodation for a unique holiday experience.

 

No matter if you favor family holidays, beach holidays, golf holidays, luxury holidays or a pet friendly accommodation, we have the best private rentals in Tuscany available for you!

 

 

Oddities

The tower "Torre Guigni" is part of an impressive construction of the Guinigi family, wealthy and powerful traders that lived in Lucca in the 14th century, and the tower is now the only remnant of the 250 towers, which peaked above the roofs of this city during the Middle Ages. The top of this 44,25 meter high tower today consists of a roof garden with centuries-old durmast oaks.

 

History

The ancient Etruscan Lucca in the valley of the river Serchio was first mentioned in 180 BC. Back then Lucca was founded at the same time as Pisa (also 180 BC ) and Luna ( 177 BC) as a Roman colony. Around 1160 the city was transcribed the rule over a territory around the city from the Bavarian duke and the Tuscan margrave Welf VI against a toll.

 

The wealth and influence of the city Lucca in the 13th century based largely on the textile industry. Amongst other Lucca was famous for its silk, as its rich coloring was considered unmatched in Europe. Due to the military power of the victorious French revolutionary armies that ended the Austrian rule in Italy, the republic of Lucca was forced to introduce a modern “democracy” (1799/1800) according to the French model and in complete dependency from Napoleon Bonaparte’s France. (Luccan Republic)

 

In the course of the overthrow of Napoleon in 1814 Lucca was for a short time occupied by Neapolitan and later Austrian troops. Since then the duchy is a part of Tuscany, with which it first joined Sardinia in the course of the Risorgimento 1859/61 and later the new centralized state Italy.

 

Economy

In earlier times Lucca experienced a period of wealth and fame due to the production and trade of silk. Today the local economy profits from the crafts and the large touristic afflux.

 

Climate

The climate in Lucca is warm and temperate. In the course of the year, July is the warmest month with an average temperature of 23,1 ° C. The coldest month of the year is with an average temperature of 6,3 ° C January.

 

Arrival to Lucca

Car

Lucca is located conveniently at the interchange A12/A11. Heading northwards the A12 leads in direction Genoa ( 160 km), going westwards you reach Florence with the A 11 (75 km) and southwards the A 12 takes you to Livorno (45 km). A wonderful avenue takes you to Pisa ( 25 km).

 

Train

Lucca is located at the railway line Florence – Viareggio and furthermore it offers a connection to Pisa. The train station of Lucca is located only a couple meters outside the town wall. 

 

Airport

The nearest international airport is Pia Galileo-Galilei (PSA). Shuttle busses go back and forth between the airport and the train station “Pisa Centrale”. A little further, yet well connected with trains, is the airport Florence. 

 

Lucca local transportation

C.L.A.P. Bus

Piazzale Verdi - tel. 0583 587897 

800602525 

 

LAZZI Bus

Piazzale Verdi - tel. 0583 584876 

 

RADIOTAXI 

Via C. Battisti, 5 

tel. 0583 955200/ 955241/ 955268 

 

TAXI 

Piazza Santa Maria - tel. 0583 494190 

Piazzale Verdi - tel. 0583 581305 

Piazza Napoleone - tel. 0583 316041 

Via Barbantini, 617 - tel. 0583 950623 

Piazzale Ricasoli (Stazione FF.SS) - tel. 0583 494989

 

Train station Lucca 

Piazza Ricasoli 

Info 848 - 888088 

0583 467013 

0583 47013 

0583 492711

 

Bicycle rental

Poli Antonio Bikes

Address: Piazza S.Maria, 42 -  Lucca

Telephone: 0583 493787

 

Bizzarri Bikes

Address: Piazza S.Maria, 32 -  Lucca

Telephone: 0583 496031

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