Day 01
Renaissance Walls, Churches, and Hidden Corners of Lucca
- We will begin our exploration of Lucca by marvelling at the last ring of walls, constructed during the Renaissance and turned into a promenade in the early 1800s because they were so perfectly preserved. We will then admire the 19th-century squares of Napoleon and Giglio.
- Next, we will head to the very heart of the city and visit the Church of St. Michael and the Cathedral of St. Martin, both of which feature impressive facades with lavishly carved and ornamented columns. The cathedral also has an entrance decorated with medieval bas-reliefs, and we will learn about one of them.
- We will stop at shops where local handicrafts are still produced today, as well as food shops where local specialities are still made. Together, we will discover the 'Lucchese' way of life and understand why Lucca is so different from any other Tuscan city.
- Then, walking along narrow alleys and small piazzas, we will reach Torre Guinigi, a medieval structure featuring a 'green top', and Piazza Anfiteatro, a former Roman coliseum transformed into a highly quaint square lined with apartments. Not only history, but also legends, anecdotes, traditions, and tales make Lucca unique. We will not miss San Martino Duomo, which keeps a significant shrine called 'Volto Santo' (Holy Countenance), and we will end our tour in Piazza San Michele, the centre of the Roman-age city.
