Lucca is lovely, isn’t it? So lovely that after spending a day or two there, you almost want to move in and make it your home. If you’re planning a trip to this Tuscan city, in this guide you’ll find plenty of useful information on what to see in Lucca and where to eat its traditional dishes. Does that sound good to you?
What to see in Lucca in one day: 7 places you can’t miss
Enclosed within a ring of walls and dotted inside with towers and churches, Lucca feels almost like a chocolate box waiting to be opened. Anyone who visits can’t help but be struck by its cozy, close-knit atmosphere—like a big village, the kind where everyone surely knows everyone else.
We spent almost three days in Lucca over a long weekend, dedicating a day and a half to exploring the city and its most important landmarks. For the occasion, we stayed in a central apartment near the walls and the Church of San Michele in Foro, Casa Merlot.
This guide is designed for those who want to visit Lucca in a day or so, but also for those with only half a day or a few hours and who want to focus on the main sights. Without forgetting a well-deserved food break or two!
Table of Contents
1. Piazza dell’Anfiteatro
This perfectly elliptical square, built on the remains of a Roman amphitheater, is one of Lucca’s most famous attractions. The colorful buildings surrounding it make it one of the prettiest squares in Tuscany (taken on a rainy day, the photo doesn’t quite do it justice).
Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is accessible through four gates and is just a short walk from Via Fillungo, the heart of Lucca’s shopping and social life. Walking along this street that cuts through the center of Lucca is a real pleasure for the eyes—though a bit less so for your wallet, which risks getting lighter among the shops and sparkling window displays.
2. Church of San Michele in Foro
Did you know Lucca is nicknamed the “city of a hundred churches“? We didn’t count them, nor did we have time to visit them all, but there are two or three you shouldn’t miss.
One of them is the Church of San Michele in Foro. Its brilliant white facade and four tiers of loggias make it look as airy and delicate as embroidery, while at the top a statue of the Archangel Michael pierces a dragon with his spear, looking down on the little square below.
The interior is quite dark and austere, with a creepy detail right beneath the main altar: the relics of Saint Davino of Armenia, hand raised as if in greeting.
3. Lucca Cathedral: the Cathedral of San Martino
Another stop, another church. Lucca Cathedral, or the Cathedral of San Martino, is the city’s most important place of worship. The original core was founded in the 6th century by Saint Frediano, who came from Ireland, while the new building was consecrated in 1070 by Pope Alexander II, in the presence of Countess Matilda of Canossa.
The Cathedral stands along the Via Francigena, the route taken by pilgrims traveling from Canterbury to Rome and on to the Holy Land. Its facade, built in the Lucchese Romanesque style, holds a treasure-filled interior. Don’t miss the funerary monument of Ilaria del Carretto, created by sculptor Jacopo della Quercia, and the Tempietto del Volto Santo.
Lucca Cathedral – Useful Info
- Admission to the Cathedral is paid. A full-price ticket costs €3.00 (free under age 6) and allows entry to the Cathedral and the Ilaria del Carretto monument
- You can climb the Cathedral Bell Tower to enjoy a beautiful view of Lucca from 60 meters up. The bell tower ticket costs €3.00, free under age 6
- Combined ticket (Cathedral, bell tower, museum, Church of Santi Giovanni e Reparata with Baptistery and archaeological area): full price €10.00, reduced (ages 6-25) €7.00, free under age 6
- Cathedral opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Bell Tower opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Website
4. Giacomo Puccini’s Birthplace
Lucca is the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini. Right in the heart of the historic center, at no. 9 Corte San Lorenzo, you can visit the house where the famous composer was born on December 22, 1858.
The exhibition begins in the Music Room, which showcases the Steinway & Sons piano on which Puccini composed much of the music for Turandot, his final masterpiece.
Among scores, librettos, photos, portraits, and objects belonging to the Lucca-born composer, you then move on to the storeroom, where the attic setting from La Bohème has been recreated. Finally, you arrive at the room where he was born, with its blue wallpaper-effect walls and a large portrait of Puccini.
The last room not to miss is the Turandot Room, where you can admire the fabulous costume used for the first production of Turandot at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House in 1926.
Puccini Museum – Useful Info
- Opening hours: every day from April 1 to September 30, 10:00 AM-7:00 PM; reduced hours during other periods
- Full-price ticket €9.00, reduced €7.00, free for children up to age 8
- Website
5. Walk Along the Walls of Lucca
The walls of Lucca stretch for 4 km and encircle the entire historic center. They’re the finest example in Europe of walls preserved perfectly intact around a major city. Construction began in 1544 and finished in 1648.
The upper part of the walls was turned into a pedestrian promenade by Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Spain: a public park ideal for strolling and admiring the city from a different perspective.
Walking the full loop of Lucca’s walls takes between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on how many photos you stop to take along the way!
6. Guinigi Tower: Lucca from Above
A tower with trees growing on top? It’s not the invention of some avant-garde architect or sci-fi writer, but one of Lucca’s most curious attractions. We’re talking about Guinigi Tower, standing 44.25 meters tall and one of the few survivors of the city’s more than 250 towers.
After climbing the 230 steps and catching your breath, you’ll find yourself in a rooftop garden of centuries-old holm oaks with a spectacular view of Lucca from above.
Guinigi Tower – Useful Info
- Book your visit date and time here
- Full-price ticket €8.00, reduced €6.50
7. Palazzo Pfanner
Among the things to see in Lucca, Palazzo Pfanner is a must. Built in 1600, this residence takes its name from the Bavarian Pfanner family, who purchased it during the 19th century. Felix Pfanner set up one of the first breweries in Italy here, operating until 1929, and turned the palace into a gathering place for the people of Lucca.
Inside the palace, you can admire several reconstructed domestic rooms and a display of medical instruments that belonged to Pietro Pfanner. But the real highlight is the Baroque garden, with lemon trees, water features, and statues. The garden and the monumental staircase also appear in the film Il Marchese del Grillo starring Alberto Sordi.
Fun fact: the stables of Palazzo Pfanner are now home to the restaurant L’Imbuto, run by chef Cristiano Tomei and recommended by the Michelin Guide.
Palazzo Pfanner – Useful Info
- Opening hours: April to November, every day, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
- Full-price ticket €6.50, reduced €5.50
- Website
Other Things to See in Lucca
The things to see in Lucca don’t end here. If you’re staying in the city for more than a day, here are a few more places to add to your list.
- Basilica of San Frediano: one of the oldest churches in Lucca, built in the Romanesque style, traditionally founded by Bishop Frediano between 560 and 588. It’s easily recognized by the golden mosaic on its facade.
- National Museum of Palazzo Mansi: once home to the influential Mansi family, one of Lucca’s most prominent, it now houses the national art gallery.
- Lucca Botanical Garden: founded in 1820 by Maria Luisa of Bourbon, it’s one of Italy’s most important botanical gardens.
- Underground Lucca: beneath the city of Lucca lie remains dating back to Roman and early Christian times, which can be admired on guided tours.
💡 To make sure you don’t miss anything in Lucca, you could book a 2-hour walking tour with an expert local guide.
Where to Eat in Lucca: Traditional Cuisine and Recommended Restaurants
When we started looking for places to eat in Lucca, we were really impressed by the variety of its traditional dishes. Here are a few specialties to try in the city:
- Farinata, a classic Lucchese dish made with borlotti beans, black kale, lard, tomato, and cornmeal.
- Tordelli, fresh pasta parcels filled with beef and pork, topped with meat sauce and Parmesan.
- Rovelline lucchesi, breaded beef slices, fried and simmered in a tomato and caper sauce.
- Necci, sweet chestnut-flour crepes filled with ricotta.
- Torte coi becchi (or coi bischeri), shortcrust tarts named after the pastry “beaks” decorating their edges, available in chocolate or vegetable fillings.
- Torta con gli erbi, a savory pie filled with wild herbs and other ingredients.
- Buccellato, a sweet bread with raisins and anise, brushed with a sugar-and-egg glaze that gives it a glossy finish.
Where to sample all these delights? Naturally, we couldn’t leave you without our recommendations for restaurants, trattorias and pastry shops in Lucca.
- Ciacco. A go-to spot in Lucca for wine and cheese and cold-cut boards, with excellent bruschette and sandwiches. Perfect for aperitivo as well as dinner, it’s an ideal place for conviviality.
- L’isola che non c’era. A trattoria perfect for enjoying traditional Tuscan and Lucchese dishes. Here we tried pappa al pomodoro, Lucchese tordelli, and a fig-and-walnut tart.
- Angolo Tondo. A restaurant in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro that won us over with its excellent service and delicious dishes, such as creamy risotto with Jerusalem artichoke cream and white truffle butter, burnt pears, Tuscan pancetta and hazelnuts, grilled beef tagliata with roasted scorzonera, and necci with ricotta.
- Atelier Damiano Carrara. Pastry shop or jewelry store? It’s worth venturing outside Lucca’s city center to reach the workshop of the famous pastry chef and judge on Bake Off Italia. Here you can buy his creations and enjoy spectacular individual desserts. And if you happen to run into Damiano in person (like we did), get ready for plenty of sweetness!
💡 Why not go on a food tour? Here’s the perfect food tour for discovering the flavors of Lucca
Where to Stay in Lucca
For our trip to Lucca, we booked an apartment on Booking.com inside the city walls, Casa Merlot. A comfortable option for 4 people, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-plan kitchen, just steps from the main attractions.
What to See in and Around Lucca in 2 or 3 Days
If you’re looking for more places to visit near Lucca, we recommend leaving the city behind to explore the Garfagnana area. Don’t miss the Devil’s Bridge in Borgo a Mozzano, the village of Barga, and Bagni di Lucca.
For those tired of sightseeing, there’s no shortage of outdoor experiences: water activities like canyoning or two-wheeled adventures like quad biking. Here are a few suggestions for experiencing Lucca in a different way:
- Canyoning Adventure in Bagni di Lucca
- 3-Hour Quad Tour in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines
- Caving Excursion in the “Screaming Cave”
- Packrafting in Borgo a Mozzano, Tuscany
- Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride in Lucca
So, have you decided what to see in and around Lucca? We hope our tips are useful, and that you’ll fall for this city just as we did!
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