Lucca is magnificent, this ancient city is able to fall in love with itself at first sight even the most experienced tourist with its history full of history, beautiful churches, luxurious restaurants ... Hidden behind the impressive Renaissance walls, Lucca is definitely one of those Tuscany cities where it is worth staying on the weekend.

It's hard to imagine a city more romantic than Lucca in the spring . From the end of March to the beginning of June, the surrounding valleys and fields are painted in bright, juicy colors that come off the impressionist paints . Dilute the bright greenery that only wild flowers, here and there playfully putting out their tender buds from the grass . The weather looks like the perfect English summer: the sky is cloudless blue, and the wind is fresh and gives a pleasant coolness . Besides, the spring is still low season, so staying in these days in the city will not only be more profitable, compared to July and August, but also more cozy .
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A little history

Founded by the Etruscans in 180 BC. e., Lucca became a colony of Romans and remained in the status of a free self-governing city until the 12th century. In 1314, the ruler of Pisa "put an eye" on it, and only thanks to the selfless efforts of the local population led by Castroccio Castracani degli Antelminelli, Lucca regained its independence for another five centuries.

The extravaganza of self-rule ended Napoleon in 1805, when he created the principality Lucca and put on the throne of his relatives, in particular, sister Eliza. Twenty years later, the power passed into the hands of the Bourbons until Lucca became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Office of Information

APT Lucca Tourist Information Office: Piazza Santa Maria, 35

Phone / Fax: 0039 0583 919931, 0039 0583469964

www.luccaturismo.it

How to get here

Lucca is on the train. (3 EUR, 25 minutes enroute) and Florence (5 EUR, 1, 5 hours) via Pistoia (3, 5-4 EUR, 45 minutes). From the hotel you can reach Florence, Pisa, Viareggio, and Prato (4 EUR, 1 hour)

Route A11 leads to the west to Pisa and Viareggio, and to the east - to Florence. SS12 and SS445 can be reached from Forno.

CLAP buses leave from the main bus station in Piazzale Verdi to almost all cities and villages in the region, for example, in Castelnuovo (3-5 EUR, 1, 5 hours) . The company Lazzi organizes flights to Florence (5-7 EUR, 1, 5 hours), Pisa (2-4 EUR, 45 minutes, departures every hour), La Spezia (5-7 EUR, 3 hours) and Marina- Carrara (3-5 EUR, 2 hours) with a stop in Marina di Massa

Search for air tickets to the city of Pisa (the nearest airport to Lucca)

Transportation

The city is convenient to walk on foot, it is not so large that you have to use cars or public transport. From the railway station. station to the street Corso Garibaldi and Piazza Piazzale Verdi ply electro-CLAP buses, but many argue that faster and more picturesque walking distance.

Lucca map For those who came to Lucca by car and booked a night at the hotel , you can hardly get into the center (inside the city walls): you have to leave the car "outside". However, parking is free of charge there.

To call a taxi, call: 0583 95 52 00. Finally, you can rent a bike in Poli (Piazza Santa Maria 42) or Cicli Bizzarri (Piazza Santa Maria 32) to leisurely explore the surroundings of Lucca, per hour / day 2.50 / 12 EUR

Cuisine and restaurants

If you want to dine like Puccini or the American modern poet Ezra Pound, head for Buca di Sant'Antonio. This restaurant dates back to 1782, offering only "high" cuisine at the same high prices (a dish from 30 euros). You can taste lamb with olives, pasta with rabbitfish or roast goat with artichokes, cooked in the traditional style of Lucca. Located Buca di Sant 'Antonio near Piazza San Michele

The best breakfast, they say, is served in Caffè di Simo - it's cappuccino and cernetto (Italian croissant) in the interior of art nouveau. Since those magical times when Puccini played here on the piano, nothing has changed: neither a long shiny bar stand full of all kinds of food nor leisurely service. The price is quite acceptable - more than 3-4 EUR for a breakfast you will not be asked.

Make a pause to have a bite is best in Forno A Vapore Amedeo Giusti. And even better - buy here all the ingredients for an unforgettable picnic: homemade cake focaccia with tomatoes, onions, olives, potatoes and mozzarella, artichokes, cheese. Address: Via Santa Lucia 18/20

Supper in Lucca should be unforgettable, so try it in Vineria I Santi. A small but very cozy restaurant with an amazing selection of wines at Piazza dell'Anfiteatro. In addition, it proved to be excellent tucked away on Via San Giorgio restaurant Vecchia Trattoria Buralli

spectacular views of the city is famous for Locanda Eremo del Gusto (Via Gelli 35/37 - Petrognano - Capannori).. In Trattoria da Leo (Via Tegrimi 1) you can sample traditional Tuscan cuisine

A typical Luccan sweet bread-baguette bucchellato (Buccellato) with an unusual taste of anise is mandatory. You can find it in small shops Taddeucci, near the Cathedral of St. Martin in the main square of Lucca.
Everywhere in the city there are graceful fountains with water, they can not be drunk from them, but even necessary - the water here is clean, cold and fresh. Many local residents even fill it with large bottles to drink and cook at home
Parade in Lucca

Shopping and shopping

Lucca is the birthplace of one of the best antique markets in all of Italy. So it's worth giving vent to feelings and with a head to go into the world of silver trinkets, costume jewelry, bronze, antique carpets, accessories and books. Where and when to bargain: every third weekend and in almost all large and significant areas of the city.

The main shopping mall in the modern sense is Via Fillungo. There are boutiques of famous Italian brands (Missoni, Armani, Max Mara), simpler shops and souvenir shops. To choose a bottle of wine or an aperitif you can in Enoteca Vanni (Piazza del Salvatore 7).

Entertainment, sightseeing and sightseeing Lucca

Lucca is one of the few Italian cities where the ancient fortress walls, more than 4 km in diameter, are almost completely preserved. They give the city a unique atmosphere of the Middle Ages, comfort, romance. It is worth strolling around outside, inside and even from above - along the wide walls are laid slandered paths.

The main architectural dominant of the city from the 6th century remains St. Martin's Cathedral Church in Piazza San Martino . Inside the cathedral, the tombstone of Ilaria del Carretto and the statue of St. John the Divine, and the work of Tintoretto (The Last Supper), Ghirlandaio (Madonna and Child of St) and Civitali (monuments Yes Noceto and Bertini) . and thanks to the golden age of culture - trecento - Lucca acquired kissing th placer of small churches and chapels with bizarre facades . One of the obligatory to visit - the basilica of St. Fredian, where the incorrupt relics of St. Zita (1212-1272) .

Puccini's name has already been mentioned several times in the description of Lucca, because this city is the birthplace of the great composer. In addition, another musical genius of Italy, Luigi Boccherini, was born here, and Joseph Brodsky visited Joseph 4 Brodsky in 1995.

Not far from the church of St. Martin the building with the Gothic dome is attracted by the Baptistery of the 14th century; and the 12th-century San Giovanni church and the monument to Maria-Luisa Bourbonna in 1834.

Another outstanding religious monument of the city is the basilica of San Frreliano of the 12th-14th centuries with an elegant facade decorated with the Ascension mosaic. Opposite - one of the most characteristic areas for Lucca - Piazza del Amphitheater, which stands in the place of the Roman amphitheater of the 2nd century. Nearby you can see the church of San Pietro Somaldi with a graceful facade of the Pisano-Romanesque style and a brick bell tower

Via Guinigi attracts attention two rows of brick buildings - the House of Guinea. It is here that the famous tower is located, on the upper platform of which the hanging garden is broken. Behind the houses is the church of Santa Maria Forassisport (with the "outside the fortress wall") with a strict marble façade decorated with arcades and loggias

Medieval Lucca

Palaces of Lucca

The number of elegant and majestic palazzos, villas and mansions in Lucca exceed all decent, fitting city size, the framework . Let us mention only the best of the best . For example, the unfinished construction of the great Ammannati - Palazzo della Provinca . Also noteworthy is the 17th century Palazzo Mansi on Via Gallia- Tassi . Here it is worthwhile to stay to see the charming The interior of the 18th century Marriage Bedroom is a carved alcove in the baroque style . In addition, Mansi hides behind the facades the National Museum with an excellent collection of paintings by artists from the Renaissance period - the 19th century . You can see the works of Giordano, Bronzino, Veronese, Tintoretto . Nearby, giving 10 more minutes, you can enjoy the interior of the Renaissance church of San Paolino with works of art from the 15th to 16th centuries .

Palazzo Pretorio - a noteworthy palace, the construction of which began back in 1492 according to the project Civit Is. Close to it - the church of San Michele in Foro of the Pisano-Lucca Romanesque style of the 14th century. Behind the facade, crowned with a statue of Michael the Archangel, are the works of Filippino Lippi, Andrea della Robbiai Raffaello da Montelupo.

Finally, you can look in the Palazzo Bernardini and Villa Guinigi (not to be confused with the houses of Guinigi). In the latter there is a museum, where it is worth to examine both departments: archaeological with finds of the Etruscan times and ancient Romans; and Fine Arts. Photo by Lucca (31)