Le Mura (City Walls)
The Renaissance-era ramparts that ring the old town — a flat, tree-lined 4.2km loop on top of the walls. Walk it, or rent bikes near Porta Santa Maria; sunset is the best time.
Home Base
Lucca
A walkable Renaissance city still wrapped in its complete circuit of walls — no fixed itinerary needed here. Most of the trip is just being in Lucca: markets, walks on the walls, long lunches.
Things to do
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro
An oval piazza built into the footprint of a Roman amphitheatre — cafés ring the perimeter. Best appreciated with a coffee or aperitivo rather than rushed through.
Torre Guinigi
A medieval tower topped, famously, with holm oak trees growing out of the top. 230-ish steps up for the best rooftop view of Lucca and the surrounding hills.
San Michele in Foro
An extravagant Pisan-Romanesque façade with tiered columns, on the site of the old Roman forum. Free to step inside.
Duomo di San Martino
Lucca's cathedral, with an asymmetric façade (it was built around an existing bell tower) and the Volto Santo crucifix inside.
Orto Botanico di Lucca
A quiet botanical garden built into the southeast corner of the walls — a good slow-down spot if the piazzas feel busy.
If You Want a Plan
A day in Lucca
Not a schedule to stick to — just one good way to link the highlights together.
One way to spend a day
A loop through Lucca
- Coffee and pastries in front of San Michele in ForoMap
- Wander to Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and the surrounding lanesMap
- Climb Torre Guinigi for the rooftop viewMap
- Step into the Duomo di San MartinoMap
- Lunch at Trattoria da LeoMap
- Walk or cycle a loop of Le Mura (City Walls) before the evening cools offMap
- Dinner at Buca di Sant'Antonio — book aheadMap
Map: attractions & restaurants
Where to eat
Buca di Sant'Antonio
A Lucca institution (open since the 1780s) for proper Tuscan classics — worth booking ahead for dinner.
Trattoria da Leo
Loud, cheap, and always full of locals — paper tablecloths and honest home cooking just off Piazza San Salvatore.
Osteria Baralla
Reliable mid-range osteria near the amphitheatre with a good farro soup and seasonal menu.
Pizzeria da Felice
Order cecina (chickpea flatbread) by the slice standing at the counter — a Lucca staple, not a sit-down meal.
Gelateria Veneta
Long-running gelato spot just off the main shopping street — good stop after the walls.