Beautiful Lucca, an Ideal Location for a City Break

The old town has preserved the rectangular Roman plan and traces of an amphitheatre can still be noticed in its famous Piazza dell'Anfiteatro; Piazza San Michele, where the wonderful Church of San Michele in Foro now stands, lies on the site of the ancient forum. Being situated at the junction of roads to Parma, Luni, Florence, Pisa and Rome, Lucca was apparently a wealthy city and was also an early episcopal see. After 476 AD, the city was governed successively by the Goths, the Byzantines and the Lombards; the Frankish counts replaced the Lombard dukes after 774.

Lucca also commanded the Via Francigena (the famous pilgrimage route running from France to Rome); however, it became even more prosperous in the 11th century thanks to the silk trade. When Matilde di Canossa died without heirs in 1115, the city began to constitute itself as an independent commune and despite a series of conflicts with its powerful neighbours and noble houses, it maintained its independence for almost 500 years until Napoleon installed Elisa Baciocchi as “Queen of Etruria” (1805-1814). In 1815, the Congress of Vienna assigned Lucca to Maria Luisa of Spain, the city passed in 1824 to her son Charles Louis of Bourbon-Parma; thirty-six years later, Lucca joined the Kingdom of Italy.

Particularly appreciated for its 16th century intact walls with huge gates and ramparts, Lucca hides an extraordinary amount of Medieval and Renaissance jewels; because of the overwhelming number of religious buildings, it is also known as the “City of 100 Churches”. Small enough to walk around on foot, it is the perfect destination for a city break as there is such a variety of sights and activities on offer. You can't miss Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, built in the Middle Ages on the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre: besides being beautiful, it also boasts cozy little restaurants, tiny cafes, local shops and occasionally outdoor markets. Climb 130 steps up the Guinigi Tower: you will enjoy breathtaking views over the city roofs. Piazza Napoleone is the heart of Lucca's political power and is home to the Ducal Palace; every July, one of the most important music festivals in Italy – the Lucca Summer Festival – takes place here.