What to see in Lucca in 2 days

Why visit Lucca in 2 days

Lucca is one of the few Italian cities that has preserved its Renaissance walls intact, now transformed into an elevated linear park embracing the old town. But Lucca is more than its Walls: it's a labyrinth of medieval streets, Romanesque churches with sculpted facades, towers with holm oaks growing on top, and a musical tradition that gave birth to Puccini. Two days allow you to discover both the city's heart and the surrounding countryside with its monumental villas.

Day 1: Inside the Walls

Morning (9:00 - 13:00)

Begin with a **walk on the Walls** (4.2 km, about 1 hour): the elevated tree-lined avenue offers glimpses of rooftops, towers, and surrounding mountains. Start from Baluardo San Regolo and proceed counterclockwise.

Descend at **Piazza dell'Anfiteatro**: built on the foundations of the Roman amphitheater, this closed elliptical square is one of Italy's most original urban spaces. Medieval houses follow the curve of the ancient tiers. Stop for coffee (20 minutes).

Continue to the **Church of San Michele in Foro**: the facade with stacked columns is a masterpiece of Pisan-Lucchese Romanesque. Then reach the **Cathedral of San Martino** (30 minutes): here you'll find the Volto Santo (8th-century wooden crucifix) and the tomb of Ilaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia.

Afternoon (15:00 - 18:30)

Climb the **Torre Guinigi** (230 steps, 20 minutes at the top): the hanging garden with holm oaks is unique in the world and the 360-degree panorama rewards the effort. Then, if you want the highest point, the **Torre delle Ore** (50 meters, still-functioning mechanical clock).

Dedicate an hour to the **Puccini House-Museum** in Corte San Lorenzo: personal objects, the piano on which he composed Turandot, and documents of the composer's life. Close the afternoon strolling **Via Fillungo**, the historic shopping street under porticoes.

Evening

Aperitivo in Piazza dell'Anfiteatro (outdoor tables on summer evenings), then dinner in trattorias on Via della Cervia or Via San Paolino. Lucchese dishes: tordelli (meat ravioli), garmugia (spring soup), buccellato (anise cake).

Day 2: Villas, Gardens and Surroundings

Morning (9:00 - 12:30)

Rent a bicycle (Lucca is the cycling city par excellence, completely flat) and pedal to **Villa Reale di Marlia** (5 km, 20 minutes): the Italian and English gardens are among Tuscany's finest, with the green theater and Baroque fountains (1.5-hour visit).

If you prefer staying in the city, explore the **San Frediano quarter**: the basilica with its large golden mosaic on the facade (rare in Tuscany), the Romanesque baptismal font, and the chapel with Amico Aspertini's frescoes (45 minutes). Then nearby **Palazzo Pfanner** with its Baroque garden (30 minutes).

Afternoon (14:30 - 17:30)

Dedicate the afternoon to the **National Museum of Palazzo Mansi** (art gallery with original 18th-century furnishings, 1 hour) or cycle along the **Serchio River Park** (bike path, 8 flat km among poplars and wetlands).

On return, pass by the **Botanical Garden** (founded 1820, small but well-kept, 30 minutes) and finish with a final loop of the Walls at sunset: golden light on the city is the final spectacle.

Evening

Closing dinner: Lucchese spelt soup, stewed rabbit, cantucci with Vin Santo. The area around Piazza Napoleone has restaurants for all budgets.

Practical tips

The bicycle is the ideal transport: rentals everywhere inside the Walls (8-15 euros/day)
The Walls are free and accessible 24 hours
Guinigi and Ore towers have a combined ticket (about 9 euros)
Lucca Comics (October-November) fills the city: book well in advance
Parking: outside the Walls at Piazzale Verdi or Porta San Donato (moderate fees)