Lucca

Lucca is famous for it’s amazingly preserved city walls, which provide a 30m wide defensive barrier. So thick are those walls Marie Louise Napoleon planted hundreds of trees on them creating a raised boulevard that can be walked or cycled around today. In the 1950’s, car rallies were held around the 4k circuit of the walls - which may partially explain why most cars have now been banned from the city centre!
Within the walls the hidden gems of Lucca can be found: there are for instance, 99 churches alone, and these, and the many palaces include numerous works of art by famous local artists such as Tintoretto, Ghirlandaio and Pisano.

The Guinigi Tower is one of the few towers remaining of the 250 originally crammed within the walls (built as status symbols by noble families) - is immediately recognisable by 7 trees planted on the top of it and the long climb up is well worth it for the breathtaking views of the city below and mountains in the distance. Don’t miss St Michael’s Square with its stunning cathedral of white stone columns and where nearby, in the house where the great composer Giacomo Puccini was born, is a museum dedicated to him. Each summer there is also an exhibition of another famous old resident - Leonardo da Vinci.

Via Filungo is the heart of the shopping centre with exclusive boutiques and designer shops lining the street and leading onto the Anfiteatro Square - a large oval piazza built on the foundations of the original Roman amphitheatre and now surrounded by cafes, restaurants, art and antique shops. Make sure you stop here at a cafe and try one of the many hot chocolate drinks you can choose from - my favourite is served with amaretto. Delicious!

Lucca is also famous for it’s free open air summer evening concerts held in the large city square - both classical and pop. Last summer, the pop concert took place every night in July and included Elton John, Simply Red, Alanis Morrisette and many others.