The city of 101 Churches. Lucca is definitely one of the city with the highest number of churches in the entire world!

You might think “impossible to visit the city in one day, then”. That’s true. If you wanna see and visit all the 101 churches, one day is not enough.

But I only had one day to try to explore as much as possible this city, such an ancient town and almost intact by time.

A walk on and inside the Walls

How can you walk “inside” the walls of the city? Here in Lucca, you can!

It’s amazing how big these 16th century walls are. They are the only ones worldwide to be completely accessible on foot or by car (cars are now forbidden). They are 4 kilometres of panoramic walkway around the city of Lucca, a great opportunity to stroll or cruise with a “risciò” and discover those secret corners that you won’t be able to see walking through the tiny streets of the city center.

And what about inside the walls? Well, the interior of the walls has only recently been made accessible and it’s just as fascinating to discover the underground streets once lit only by holes on the surface.

The Cathedral

Choosing the best churches to visit is almost impossible.
With a list of 101 churches, which ones and how many would you go for? It’s hard to answer, but I am pretty sure that the Cathedral will definitely be on your list.

Looking at its façade, you will immediately understand which is its rarest feature: the multitude of columns, each different from the other.

The legend says that there was a contest for choosing the artist who would have made all the columns of the façades.
Every artist taking part of the competition, made a column but in the end the inhabitants of Lucca decided not to choose only one winner, but to use all the columns presented for the contest.

The Church of San Martino in Foro

I must say that I first thought that THIS was the Cathedral and not he real one.

Right in the city center and in one of the biggest squares (if there’s something big in this city), this Church is simply amazing from outside. By the way, the most impressive part of it is its exterior, more the the interior.

The Guinigi Tower

Have you ever seen a tower with a small garden on top? Well, that’s the uniqueness of this tower.
The ancient trees on top are holm oaks symbolising rebirth and renewal.

If you don’t suffer from heights, I’d say you can’t miss the view from the rooftop of this ancient tower.

And then…Just Walk and Explore!

Lucca is a small city and the greatest way to explore it is just walking!

I had a 3 hours walk around the city, simply inspired by the narrow streets and the typical “cellar” smell of this city.
The houses and buildings in the city centre seem to have remained motionless over time and it is so rare the typical smells here of such an ancient historic centre.

For lunch, a slice of pizza on the typical benches of the city, part themselves of the façades of the buildings.
And then away, again immersed in the squares, alleys, churches all around.

And don’t forget to try or take the typical “buccellato” away in one of the old pastry shops in the centre!