PIAZZA SAN MICHELE

Piazza San Michele, together with the neighbor piazza Napoleone, have in all years been considerated as the  main center of the city. Here people have gathered to socialize, talk and go to the markets. On these piazzas you can enjoy musicians, magicians, opera singers, dancers, acrobats and skilled artists all year round. Right on the Piazza San Michele is the beautiful church "San Michele in Foro" located.  It was built between 1000-1200's, but was never fully completed. You can see this on the uncompleted roof, where  the columns and the facade faces the void. At the top of the church stands a four-meter-high statue, the Angel San Michele, which is said to be the  defender of the church. It is holding a diamond that can be seen glimmering in the dark from a particular direction on the piazza.

PFANNER PALACE & THE GARDEN

The most beautiful garden in the centre of Lucca, which  really is a harmonious place. Here you can enjoy exotic Mediterranean plants, fruit trees, cypresses and tall  pines. In the park there are also several statues and a large fountain. The palace was built in the 1600s and the garden was created about hundred years later. The most well known family who lived here was the Austrian Pfanner family, who became the first brewers of Lucca.

OPENING HOURS: Every day Apr-Oct 10:00-18:00

PRICE: The garden or the palace  € 4.50 Reduced: € 4.00 Free: Children up to 12 years

The garden and the palace € 6.00 Reduced: € 5.00 Free: Children up to 12 years

(Reduced price for children between 12-16 years, students and people over 65)

BOTANICAL GARDEN

Lucca's other big garden which was founded 1820 by Maria Louisa of Bourbon, Duchess of Lucca. In this lush garden you can enjoy the beautiful plants in the pleasant shaddow.

OPENING HOURS: 20 Mar-Apr: 10: 00-17: 00 May-Jun: 10: 00-18: 00, Jul-Sep 10: 00-19: 00

oct- 4 nov: 10: 00-17: 00.

PRICE: € 4.00 Reduced: € 3.00 (for people aged 6-14 years and over 65).

Free: Children under 6 years

MARKET

The main market of Lucca, where you can buy everything from clothes, technology gadgets, shoes and interior  to delicatessen, fruit,vegetables and pets.

WHEN: Wednesday and Saturday every week: 09: 00-13: 00

WHERE: Via dei Bacchettoni (between Porta Elisa and Porta San Jacopo)

ANTIQUE MARKET

230 exhibitors who sell  antique furnitures, paintings, porcelain, silverware, jewelry and textiles at the piazzas in the city center.

WHEN: Third Saturday and Sunday of each month

WHERE: San Giusto, Piazza Antelminelli Piazza Del Giglio, Piazza San Giovanni and Piazza San Martino.

THE CHILDHOOD HOME OF PUCCINI

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was one the most famous composers in opera and one of the most important people of Lucca. His most famous works are Madame Butterfly, Tosca and Turandot. Puccini's childhood home is today a museum with untouched interior. Here you can look at original writings, -letters, -notes and -costumes from Madame Butterfly and Turandot.

OPENING HOURS: Apr-Oct: 10:00-18:00, Nov-Mar: 11:00-17: 00 CLOSED: 25/12

PRICE: € 7.00 Reduced: € 5.00 (people under 18 and over 65 + students up to 26 years) Free entrance up to 10 years.

PUCCINI OPERA

Lucca knows what they are talking about when it comes to culture, and especially opera. They  began to make opera performances in Lucca in honor of Puccini. The opera singers are of world class and since the  show takes place inside the oldest church of Lucca it makes the atmosphere even more magical.

OPENING HOURS: 19:00; Apr-Oct: mon-sun, Nov-Mar: fri & sat,    in the church of San Giovanni Reparata

PRICE: € 20.00 Reduced: € 16.00 (for students under 23 years)

MANSI PALACE

Mansi was one of the main noble families of Lucca and had a great influence in the city, with several impressive palaces and villas. In this museum you can admire the Mansi's majestic rooms with art collections, original furnitures and other objects belonging to the family.

OPENING HOURS: 08:30-19:30 (last entry at. 19:00)

PRICE: € 4.00 Reduced: € 2.00

VILLA GUINIGI

One of the noble families of Lucca, Guinigi, who ruled the city during the 1200s- 1400s, built this villa in 1413. Here lived one of the most successful persons in the Guinigi family, Paolo Guinigi, the ruler of Lucca. Today the building is a museum.

OPENING HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 08: 30-19: 30 (last admission 19:00).

PRICE: € 4.00 Reduced: € 2.00 Free: Under 18

GUINIGI TOWER

One of the most peculiar tower in Tuscany, which was created in the 1300s by the ruling family of  Lucca, Giunigi. At the top of the tower it is a garden with seven oak trees, which symbolize rebirth. It is not known exactly when the oaks were planted, but it is estimated that they may be 500-600 years old. The tower is 44 meters high and it takes about 10 minutes to walk to the top. Here you can enjoy a breathtaking view and it is the best place to take the perfect pictures of the city.

OPENING HOURS: Jan-Feb 10:30 -16:30, Mar: 9:30 - 17:30, Apr - May: 09:30 to 18:30, Jun - Sep: 09: 30-19: 30, Nov - Dec: 10:30-16:30 CLOSED: 25/12.

PRICE: € 4.00 Reduced: € 3.00 (students and people over 65). Free: children under 6 years.

TORRE DELLE ORE

The tallest tower of Lucca, with 207 steps. This tower was created in 1390 but was later restored, in the mid-1700s. It is located right in the center of Lucca, on the main street Via Fillungio.

OPENING HOURS: Mar: 09: 30-17: 30, Apr-May: 09:30-18:30, Jun-Sep: 09:30-19: 30, Oct: 09: 30-17:30 CLOSED: Nov- Feb

PRICE: € 4.00 Reduced: € 3.00 (persons aged 6-14 and over 65 years). Free: children under 6 years.

ARCHEOLOGIST MUSEUM DOMUS ROMANA

Here you will find the two thousand years old history of Lucca collected in one place, with information about the building techniques used during the Lombard period, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. You will also find different types of original historical objects and the old coin collection of Lucca.

OPENING HOURS: 09:00-19:00

PRICE: € 3.00, museum +  old coin collection   of € 6.00

AMPHITHEATER

The amphitheater of Lucca, which was created during the Roman Empire in 1000s and was then used as  arena for gladiator games and other spectacles. Today it is one of the  most popular piazzas in Lucca, with a huge number of resturants, gelaterias and interior shops.  The amphitheater is located right in the center, close to the  main shopping street, Via Fillungo.

THE TORTURE MUSEUM

A scary but poignant museum which showing all kinds of torture tools used in the world, mainly during the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s. Here you should not go if you are extra sensitive when it besides tools also are documentary images.

OPENING HOURS: 10:00-20:00

PRICE: € 10.00 Reduced: € 7.00 (students)

CHURCH OF SANTI GIOVANNI E REPARTA

The first cathedral of Lucca, which was created in the 700s but later restored in the 1100s. The price includes the archeology section of the church and a visit in the accompanying bell tower.

OPENING HOURS: 10:00-18:00 (last admission is 30 minutes before closing).

PRICE: € 4.00 € Reduced: € 3.00 (students between 7-18 years).

CATHEDRAL SAN MARTINO

The  cathedral of Lucca from the 1000's which is really worth a visit. Inside you can view the breathtaking temple "Il Volto Santo", made of the most famous sculptor of Lucca Matteo Civitali. Inside the temple there is a fascinating Jesus' cross from the early Middle Ages, which carries an incredible story.

OPENING HOURS: 15 Mar- 2 Nov: 09:30-18:00, 3 Nov- 14 Mar: 9:30-17:00

PRICE: € 3.00 Free: children between 0-14 years.

MUSEUM OF THE CATHEDERAL

In this museum you canl see paintings, sculptures, writings and other royal items in original condition. The items come from the Cathedral of San Martino and the church Dei Santi Giovanni Reparta.

OPENING HOURS: 15 Mar -2 Nov: 10: 00-18: 00, 3 Nov-14 Mar: 10: 00-14: 00 (Saturday and Sunday: 10: 00- 18:00)

PRICE: € 4.00 € Reduced: € 3.00 (for students from 7 to 18 years).

NOTE! Collection price: Dei Santi Giovanni, San Martino and Cathedral Museum: 7,00 €.

OTHER CHURCHES WITH FREE ENTRY:

SAN FREDIANO

SAN PAOLINO

SANTA MARIA DELLA ROSA