Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Exploring Lucca
Lucca is enclosed by massive red brick
walls which help to give the city its
special character by shutting out traffic
and the modern world. Built in 1504-1645,
the walls are among the best-preserved
Renaissance defences in Europe. Within
these walls, Lucca is a peaceful city of
narrow lanes, preserving intact its original
ancient Roman street plan. Unlike several
of Tuscany's hilltop cities, Lucca is flat: many locals use
bicycles, which lends the city added charm.
independent until the late
1700s. The red brick palazzo,
built in the late 14th century,
has late-Gothic windows. The
striking 41-m (133-ft) defen-
sive tower alongside, the
Torre del Guinigi, has a small
roof garden, hence the ilex
(holm-oak) trees sprouting
incongruously at the top.
Mosaic in
San Frediano
Y
Giardino Botanico
Via dell'Orto Botanico 14.
Tel
0583
44 21 60.
10am-5pm daily (to
6pm May & Jun; to 7pm Jul-Sep).
¢
#
& 7
Lucca's delightful botanical
garden, tucked into an angle
of the city walls, was laid out
in 1820. It displays a wide
range of Tuscan plants.
Sun (Nov-Mar).
E
Museo della Cattedrale
Piazza Antelminelli 5.
Tel
0583 49 05
30.
Nov-Mar: 10am-3pm daily (to
5pm Sat, Sun); Apr-Oct: 10am-6pm
daily.
#
& 7
Housed in the 14th-century
former Archbishop's Palace,
the museum displays the
treasures of the Duomo, San
Martino. These include the
11th-century carved stone head
of a king from the original
façade. There is also a rare
12th-century Limoges enamel
casket, which possibly held
a relic of St Thomas à Becket.
The Croce di Pisani made
by Vincenzo di Michele in
1411 is a masterpiece showing
Christ hanging from the Tree
of Redemption, surrounded
by angels, the Virgin, St John
and the other Evangelists.
¢
1 Jan, Easter, 25 Dec.
E
Museo Nazionale
Villa Guinigi
Via della Quarquonia.
Tel
0583 49
60 33.
Lucca viewed from the top of the Guinigi Tower
R
San Martino
See pp180-81.
mark the gates through which
beasts and gladiators would
once have entered the arena.
8:30am-7pm Tue-Sat (to
1pm Sun).
#
¢
1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec.
P
Anfiteatro Romano
Piazza del Mercato.
Almost none of the ancient
Roman amphitheatre survives:
the stone was gradually stolen
for use elsewhere, leaving the
atmospheric arena-shaped
Piazza del Mercato of today
(see p169)
. The piazza is
enclosed by medieval houses
that were built up against the
walls of the amphitheatre. Its
shape, perfectly preserved, is
a striking reminder that Lucca
was founded by the Romans
around 180 BC. Low archways
at north, south, east and west
&
(a cumulative ticket also allows
entry at the Museo Nazionale
di Palazzo Mansi).
This Renaissance
villa was built for
Paolo Guinigi, who
ruled Lucca from
1400 until 1430.
The ground floor holds
sculpture from Lucca
and surrounds, includ-
ing fine Romanesque
reliefs from Lucca's
churches. The gal-
lery on the floor
above displays
paintings and choir
P
Palazzo dei Guinigi
Via Sant'Andrea 41.
Tel
0583 31
68 46.
Tower
daily. Apr-
May: 9am-6:30pm; Jun-Sep:
9:30am-7:30pm; Oct: 9:30am
-5:30pm; Nov-Feb: 9:30am-
4:30pm.
#
&
This house was once
owned by the power-
ful Guinigi family,
rulers of the city in the
15th century. They kept
Florence at bay, so
Lucca was never
conquered by the
Medici, remaining
¢
25 Dec.
Romanesque lion at
Museo Nazionale
Guinigi
