Lucca

History

The charming Tuscan city of Lucca has preserved a fine heritage of churches, squares and palaces within its ramparts, which extends all the way around the Città Vecchia. Colonized by the Romans in the 2nd century BC and later occupied in turn by the Goths and the Byzantines, Lucca lived a period of great prosperity in the 14th century. Some of the city’s finest buildings and churches date from this period.

Sights To See

Amongst the Tuscan city’s quaint squares are the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, in the area of the Roman amphitheatre, where a series of Medieval buildings superimpose the theatre and enclose the square in a ring.

The Duomo of Lucca was built in Romanesque style in the 11th century and rebuilt during the Renaissance. The asymmetrical façade dates back to 1204 with a portico below with reliefs attributed to Nicolas Pisano. Close to the Duomo is the magnificent church of Saints Giovanni and Reparata, of the 12th century. Underlying it is an archaeological site of the church’s early foundations as well as Roman and late Roman eras.

Piazza San Michele is a lively centre of city life. Its church, Chiesa di San Michele in Foro is a typical example of Lucca-Pisan architecture. The façade presents four richly decorated galleries, crowned with a colossal statue of Archangel Michael. The right flank is also incredibly beautiful, with powerful arches and a small Trecento loggia at the end of which rises the bell tower.

Where to Stay

• Castles
• Private Villas
• Country Farmhouses
• Apartments
• Bed & Breakfasts
• Luxury Hotels

Getting There

By Car or Bus Pisa (40 min), Florence (1 hr) http://www.Trainspa.it