Things to Do in Lucca

12th-century Romanesque church on the former Roman forum. Four-tiered facade with marble intarsia and a striking archangel statue.

🕐 Mon-Sat 09:00-18:00, Sun 09:00-17:00

💡 Check for free organ recitals Saturday afternoons. The Pisan-style exterior is best seen in morning light.

An oval plaza built into the remains of a Roman amphitheatre. The medieval buildings follow the original arena's footprint. Sit in the sun and watch the world go by.

🕐 Always open

💡 Avoid the overpriced cafés in the square. Instead, grab a panino from Alimentari Puccini one street away and eat it on the steps near the southern edge.

A former Renaissance villa now housing a museum of Lucchese art and archaeology. Collections include Roman marble, medieval sculpture, and paintings from the 12th to 18th centuries.

🕐 Tue-Sun 9:00-19:00, closed Mon

💡 Free entry on the first Sunday of each month. Even if not interested in art, walk through the gardens for lovely views of the city walls.

A Pisan-Romanesque church on the site of the Roman forum. Its four-tier facade is topped by a statue of the archangel Michael. Inside, look for Filippino Lippi's 15th-century altarpiece.

🕐 Mon–Sat 10:00–13:00, 15:00–18:00; Sun 10:00–17:00

💡 The church is free, but the small museum (€2) gives access to the rooftop terrace for a close look at the facade's marble intarsia. Visit early to avoid tour groups.

Romanesque cathedral from the 11th century with a striking asymmetric facade. Inside, see the Volto Santo crucifix and Tintoretto's Last Supper. Free entry to the main nave.

🕐 Mon-Sat 9:30-18:00, Sun 9:00-17:00

💡 The free section covers the main church. Pay €3 for the treasury and sacristy to see the gorgeous wooden choir stalls and 14th-century frescoes.

A 12th-century church with a striking Romanesque facade and a towering golden mosaic. Inside, the 13th-century font by Guido Bigarelli is a highlight.

🕐 Mon–Sat 9:30–17:30, Sun 9:00–17:00

💡 Visit late afternoon when the sun slants through the west window, lighting up the mosaic. Free entry, but check for occasional concerts (€5–€10) in the crypt.

A Romanesque church with a striking 13th-century mosaic on its façade. Inside, the 12th-century marble baptismal font and Romanesque columns are worth a close look.

🕐 Mon-Sat 9:30-12:00 & 15:00-17:30; Sun 9:00-11:00 & 15:00-17:00

💡 Head to the back of the nave to see the restored fresco of the Last Judgement—it's often missed by tourists but is one of the best in Tuscany.

Medieval tower with oak trees growing from the top. Climb 227 steps for panoramic views over the old town.

🕐 Daily 09:30-19:30 (summer); shorter in winter

💡 Costs €4 cash only. Go on a clear day to see the Apuan Alps. No lift, so skip if mobility is an issue.

14th-century tower with seven ilex trees growing on its rooftop. Climb 230 steps for panoramic views of Lucca's red roofs and the Apuan Alps. Entry fee €5 (reduced €4 for students).

🕐 Daily 9:00-19:00 (closes earlier Nov-Feb)

💡 Queue less than 15 minutes on weekdays after 3pm. Bring a bottle of water – the steps are tight and hot in summer.

A 14th-century tower with seven holm oak trees growing from the roof. The 230-step climb gives the best view of Lucca's rooftops and the surrounding hills. Entry costs €4.

🕐 Daily 9:30-18:30 (hours shorten in winter; check before)

💡 Go on a clear weekday morning around 9am to avoid queues. The oaks shade the top, so it's cooler than other towers—worth the small fee for the photo.

An elliptical piazza built on the remains of a 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre. Surrounded by cafes and shops, it retains the original oval shape and four entrance arches.

🕐 Public square, always open

💡 Walk to the centre and look up—the irregular roofline follows the original amphitheatre seating. Free to enter, but no seating inside; grab a coffee at Caffè di Simo for a view.

4km ring of intact 16th-century walls now a public park. Walk or cycle the top for city views and shade.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Rent a bike from Cicli Bizzarri near Porta Elisa for €3/hr. Go early morning to avoid midday heat.

An oval piazza built on the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre. The surrounding buildings follow the original arena walls, creating a unique enclosed space with cafes and shops.

🕐 Always open

💡 Go early morning before 9am to see the square empty of tourists and hear the echo of footsteps on the cobbles.

A 4.2 km ring of Renaissance walls, now a pedestrian and cycle promenade lined with plane trees. You can walk or cycle the entire loop for free.

🕐 Always open

💡 Rent a bike from Cicli Bizzarri on Via Santa Croce – they do half-day rentals for €10. Go just before sunset for cooler air and golden light on the bastions.

A 14th-century tower with a rooftop garden of holm oaks—a unique sight in Italy. Climb 225 steps for panoramic views across Lucca's terracotta roofs and the Apuan Alps.

🕐 Daily 9:30–19:30 (last entry 18:30); shorter hours Nov–Feb, check ahead

💡 Entry is €5, but free with the Lucca Card (€12, includes multiple sites). Go right at opening (9:30) to have the top almost to yourself. The steps are narrow—skip if you're claustrophobic.

A small, peaceful garden founded in 1820 with a collection of medicinal plants, a pond, and a greenhouse of tropical species. It rarely gets crowded.

🕐 May-Sep: Mon-Sat 9:00-19:00, Sun 9:00-13:00; Oct-Apr: Mon-Sat 9:00-17:00, Sun 9:00-13:00

💡 Free entry on the first Sunday of the month. Otherwise, it's €4, but if you're on a budget, the free public park on the walls (Parco delle Mura) is just as green and costs nothing.

A 4.2 km ring of 16th-century Renaissance walls, now a public park with wide tree-lined paths for walking, cycling or running. Views over the city and surrounding hills.

🕐 Always open

💡 Rent a bike from Cicli Bizzarri (€5 per hour) and ride the full loop in 20 minutes. Best at sunset when the light hits the terracotta roofs.

A 4.2km ring of Renaissance walls, now a tree-lined public park. Walk or cycle along the top for views over Lucca's rooftops and surrounding countryside.

🕐 Accessible 24/7

💡 Rent a bike from Antonio Bike at Piazzale Verdi for about €3 an hour. Go early morning to avoid crowds and see the fog lift off the wall.

Compact riverside park on the Serchio river. Walking trails, picnic spots and a small wooden bridge.

🕐 Sunrise to sunset

💡 Combine with a visit to the nearby Roman amphitheatre ruins. Bring insect repellent in summer.

Birthplace of composer Giacomo Puccini. Small house museum with personal effects, manuscripts and a piano.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00 (Mon closed)

💡 Entry is €7, but free on the first Sunday of the month. Go at opening time to avoid queues.