Everyone grows up reading or hearing fairytales; tales of towns surrounded by Medieval walls. What happens inside and outside of these walls is always a fascinating adventure. My visit to Lucca, Italy, proved that fairytales are real, and that mysterious walled towns still exist. No visit to Tuscany should be complete without a visit to Lucca; the birthplace of Puccini. This well-preserved little town oozes charm inside and outside of its famed historic wall and is one not to be missed. So if you’re wondering what to do in Lucca Italy, here is your perfect pocket Luccfa travel guide to help you plan.

Just an hour from Florence, Lucca makes for the perfect road trip stop, day trip destination, or somewhere to explore for longer while in Tuscany. Image © Pat Bailey

What to Do in Lucca Italy

Whether you are visiting Lucca for the day, or planning a longer trip to explore, you will sense the pride and preserved heritage of the people “inside the wall.”

Lucians are quick to distinguish if they were born inside or outside the wall, and if they live and work inside or outside the wall.

The pride is well-earned, their city’s ancient wall has maintained its original structure since the Renaissance, and this is not because many haven’t tried to destroy it.

Lucca has a rich history of protection and mastery in strategic battle and outwitting enemies. This history is fascinating.

Here are 6 incredible things to do in Lucca Italy during your visit:

There is history around every corner inside the walls of Lucca, Italy. Image © Pat Bailey

6 Things to Do in Lucca Italy

Contents

1. Book a Private Lucca Tour with a Local Guide

Because Lucca is a small town, and Lucians are a close group, everyone in Lucca knows Riccardo Scarafoni of Tuscany Cruises on the Road.

He was born inside the walls of Lucca and has a rich knowledge both of Italian history in general and of Lucca and the surrounding areas in Tuscany.

I spent my first day in Lucca on a private tour with Riccardo which was one of my very favorite parts of the trip.

The Lucca Cathedral is a must-see while visiting the Italian city. Image © Pat Bailey

2. Visit the Impressive Lucca Churches

For a small city, Lucca is mighty. There are 101 churches within the city walls and the town is nearly 72 square miles.

I learned about a handful of these churches with Riccardo on my tour, we popped into a few off-the-beaten paths to wander inside and see incredible art masterpieces.

I highly recommend narrowing this list down to the two main churches in Lucca, Il Duomo or the cathedral and St. Michael’s Church.

St. Michael’s Church

St Michael’s Church is easy to find and in a main square with many shops and cafes nearby, its grandeur is typical for Italy and the interior is magnificent.

The Cathedral of St. Martin

The Cathedral of St. Martin in Lucca was my favorite.

Inside you can catch a glimpse of Ilaria del Carretto’s Tomb by Jacopo Della Quercia and the really incredible Volto Santo, a wooden crucifix of the Holy Face, and an ancient symbol of Lucca.

Historic interior of the Lucca wall in Tuscany, Italy. Image © Pat Bailey

3. Walk the Wall

Of course, the 16th-century wall itself is something to explore for sure.

The 4 kilometers of panoramic walkway around the city of Lucca offers the perfect opportunity to stroll or cruise with a bird’s eye view from above which allows you a vantage point you cannot have any other way.

It is the perfect way to see Lucca.

The Piazza dell’ Anfiteatro is a central meeting point and the perfect place to dine and people-watch in Lucca, Italy. Image © Pat Bailey

4. Enjoy Lunch in the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

The Amphitheatre Square, or Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is authentic Lucca and a real gem from Roman times.

Originally an amphitheater, this town square is oval and you can get a true sense of this from the inside.

Inside you will find many shops and the perimeter of the oval is lined with one café after another offering local Italian dishes.

I enjoyed a leisurely lunch inside the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro one afternoon and it was the absolute perfect place to be for yummy pasta, rosé, and people-watching.

5. See The Guinigi Tower

You cannot miss the Guinigi Tower when you visit Lucca, it isn’t easily seen from most narrow streets but it is a prevalent and famous landmark in Lucca and worth climbing to the top of to see the view from above.

The curious thing about this tower at first glance is the trees growing from the top of it.

When you reach the top of the tower you enter into the roof garden which was built by the Guinigi family.

Some stories claim that the Guinigi family planted the garden when they ruled to symbolize the town’s rebirth while under their control.

But, Riccardo’s folklore touts a tale of the family wanting the tallest tower and the only way to go beyond what was legal at the time was to plant trees on top of it.

Either way, it is worth seeing and it isn’t often that you can be in a garden on the top of a tower in the middle of a fairytale Tuscan town.

6. Visit the Puccini Museum

Finally, if you are a Puccini fan, you might take the opportunity to visit the Puccini Museum which is his birth home.

You can follow this visit up with a stop in any of the local bakeries for sweet specialties named after the famous opera singer.

7. Take a Bike Tour in Lucca

Lucca is a cycling city! Not only do most of the locals own bicycles, making it a bike-friendly city.

But, Lucca is the host of many professional cyclists who make their home here during training months of the year which makes it one of the best things to do in Lucca as a visitor.

It is one of the best places for pro cyclists to train because of the varying elevation and terrain that the area provides.

As a result, it is pretty common to spot a professional cyclist while you are visiting Lucca, which is exactly what happened to me.

I met pro cyclist Daniel Teklehaimanot while I was visiting with my now-good friend Paladino Meschi, a native of Lucca and a lifelong cyclist who owns the best bike shop in the city called Chrono.

Whether you are looking for a bike to rent for a few hours of cruising the wall, a few days of exploring on your own, or joining a shop ride or organised cycling tour, Chrono is the place to go and Paladino is the person to speak with.

His shop is filled with the best cycling brands including Pinarello, and bikes of all kinds and sizes.

In addition to the shop, Paladino organises Bike Experiences for groups of cyclists to experience the Tuscany lifestyle by bike.

These experiences occur between March and October and take place seven days a week.

The gorgeous Villa Benvenuti is a seventeenth-century estate in the countryside just 15 minutes from Lucca. Image © Pat Bailey

Where to Stay in Lucca

Villa Benvenuti | Check Prices & Availability

My visit to Lucca was made extra special because of my stay in two separate villas close by.

The first of which was Villa Benvenuti, a seventeenth-century estate with seven bedrooms and plenty of other rooms to happily get lost in, and just 15 minutes from the city of Lucca.

Originally known as Ai Bernadini, named for the distinguished Luccan family that once lived there.

It was renamed during World War II, Villa Benvenuti after Signora Benvenuti lived there and its doors were opened to refugees of the war.

I love that Benvenuti also means welcome in Italian because this is exactly how I felt while I was there and how I know these refugees must have felt too.

The villa, situated on 69 acres, offers guests an invitation to explore the grounds with whimsy.

I happened upon the Secret Garden during one of my explorations and then returned