Via Fillungo

With this tour you will be able to have a concrete idea of the historical, artistic and cultural beauties at a sustainable rate. Your Qualified Tourist Guide will take you to discover buildings, monuments, characters, places enclosed in the 4 km of monumental walls and will explain everything to you ONLY in ITALIAN. The itinerary lasting approximately 2 hours is suitable both for those visiting Lucca for the first time and for those who want to deepen their knowledge of the city. Paid entrance fees are NOT included. The climb up the Renaissance Walls is included.

Join this BASIC walking tour and don't miss the 'must see' of Lucca! Perfect for first-time visitors and and also for people interested in Lucca’s impressive history, stories and legends that have made the small, stunning city so unique. The tour DOESN'T include ticket to the Duomo! The tour is in English ONLY. Duration (including the inside of the Duomo) is around 1 hour and 45 minutes. Once you join our small group (no more than 24 people) your guide will let you discover the highlights of Lucca, a charming, walled city in northern Tuscany. Your guide will tell you anecdotes about its fabled residents and will show you the local way of life. "Must see": Piazza San Michele, Via Fillungo, the city Walls, San Frediano Church, Piazza Anfiteatro, Guinigi tower, the Duomo (ticket NOT included).

Get an insider’s view of Lucca’s most historic neighborhoods on a group walking tour of the Amphitheater Square, the Palazzo Pfanner, the Piazza San Martino. Begin your urban walking adventure by meeting your guide at the Saint Maria Gate, where you'll hear straight to the Amphitheater Square. Learn how it was built on the ruins of a Roman arena, giving it its iconic ovular shape. Next, head towards the Palazzo Pfanner, a stunning palace with Baroque style architecture and opulent gardens. The historic city of Lucca is made of fortress style architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries. Unlike most cities, Lucca is a peaceful and slow-paced place, which you'll notice on your relaxed walking tour. Then, continue your journey down the main shopping street of Via Fillungo, where you can grab a bite to eat and do a little shopping, before walking to the Piazza San Martino — home to several important monuments, including the Lucca Cathedral, built in 1070. Carry on towards the Teatro del Giglio, which is the historic city theater and opera house. Finally, walk along the walls in front of the Porta San Pietro, and enjoy panoramic views overlooking the picturesque city.

In this tour we discover the most important places to see in Lucca. Walking in the historic center we have fun visiting churches, streets, monuments and listening to the history of the city, legends and unusual and funny stories. We walk from the Renaissance walls to the Cathedral of San Martino, a great example of rich Romanesque architecture. Inside we admire works of art such as the monument to Ilaria del Carretto. In Piazza Napoleone we discover the love stories of his court and the culture of that time. Then walk around Via Fillungo, the shopping street, bars and restaurants where you can enjoy an aperitif or eat excellent Tuscan cuisine. We visit the basilica of San Frediano with its Byzantine mosaic and then take photos in Piazza Anfiteatro, testimony to Lucca's Roman origins. We continue towards the Guinigi tower with the holm oaks on the top and end up at the Devil's window. Along the way, for those with a sweet tooth, we can stop to taste Buccellato, a typical dessert from Lucca.

Discover the cities of Pisa and Lucca, as you travel on a total freedom tour to Western Tuscany. Start at Piazza dei Miracoli and see the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Monumental Graveyard and the iconic Leaning Tower. Take your time to enjoy the stunning sights, have a stroll around the city and do some shopping, if you want, as your chauffeur will be happy to meet you anytime, at any place. Continue to Lucca, and appreciate its 16th century intact walls. Visit its famous Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, Via Fillungo, filled with unique shops, restaurants and neighborhood people. See the Guinigi Tower with its roof garden, the Clock Tower and St. Martin's Cathedral. Take a relaxing walk along the city walls and enjoy wonderful views over the city and its rooftops. Your chauffeur will remain at your disposal for the entire day. End with a drive back to your accommodation in Florence.

Meet your private driver-guide in La Spezia as close as possible to your ship's arrival for the pleasant hour's drive to the charming medieval city of Lucca. It is a city enclosed and protected through the centuries by an imposing 16th-century wall, which is one of the best-preserved Renaissance defenses in Europe. Discover the city's Roman features with the Church of San Michele in Foro standing on the site of the original Roman forum. It was here that Giacomo Puccini began his musical career as a choir boy. Strolling along the lively shopping street of Via Fillungo, you will arrive at the Church of San Frediano with its 6th-century origins. See the tomb of Saint Zita (1278), mentioned by Dante in the Inferno movie, whose mummified body can be seen through the glass. Discover the unique shaped arena, Piazza Anfiteatro, constructed in the 1st century A.D. under Emperor Claudius with 54 arches and a cave able to hold as many as ten thousand spectators in 18 rows of seats. The Cathedral of San Martino houses the precious holy relic, the Volto Santo, a cedar wood crucifix said to be a true portrait of Jesus sculpted by Nicodemus, an eyewitness to the crucifixion. Also, see the remarkable marble tomb of Ilaria del Carretto and Tintoretto's infamous 'Last Supper.'  The city is filled with artisans and tempting delicatessens offering Tuscan specialties, and Lucca is particularly renowned for its olive oil. Not to be missed are the underground cellars of Enoteca Vanni, offering a tempting selection of wines from all over Italy. Lunch will be at your own cost, and your driver can make recommendations and point you in the right direction. You may even have time to enjoy lunch at a local vineyard on the outskirts of town before taking the short drive to the 11th-century powerful maritime republic of Pisa. Enjoy a driving tour of the city, which will lead you to the heart of one of the most important monuments in Italy, the breathtaking Piazza dei Miracoli with its Baptistry, the cathedral, Campo Santo Cemetery, and of course, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You'll be free to explore some of the city on foot before meeting up with your driver for the return journey back to your ship in the port of La Spezia.

A 3-hour walking tour, calm and relaxed, to discover the most important places in the historic center of Lucca. You will walk on paved streets that have remained like this since the Renaissance, among stately buildings, truncated towers, ancient squares. I will tell you the stories of the only city in Tuscany that has not known the rule of the Medici, of the Guinigi family that has left so many signs in the city, of the love stories of the Napoleonic era and I will show you the most significant churches among the many that the city of Lucca hosts. The visit of the city of Lucca starts from our meeting point in the park in front of the station from where you can admire the majesty of the Renaissance walls that for 5 centuries have protected the historic center of Lucca from the attacks of the neighboring cities. Passing through the access gates in the walls you will discover how this defense system was conceived and how, having lost their original function, they have become a symbol of the city and a place frequented by the Lucchesi who are very jealous of them. Entering the city we will visit the Cathedral of San Martino, the largest church in Lucca with its Pisan Romanesque style facade. Inside we can admire works of art such as the “volto Santo”, a wooden crucifix from the Middle Ages to which the Lucchesi are very attached and the funeral monument to Ilaria del Carretto whose story I will tell you. We will then move towards Piazza Napoleone. This square was the seat of the Napoleonic court for 10 years, there I will tell you about the secret loves that were intertwined with Paganini's career. We will continue the tour to the church of San Michele in Foro to observe the bas-reliefs of mythological figures that are found on its facade. Here, for those with a sweet tooth, we can stop to buy the Buccellato, a typical dessert of Lucca. From there we will move to Via Fillungo, the shopping street, with bars and restaurants where you can enjoy an aperitif or eat excellent Tuscan cuisine. As we pass under the clock tower I will tell you about a beautiful woman from Lucca, who paid for her pact with the devil on that tower! We will arrive at the Basilica of San Frediano, we will first admire the Byzantine mosaic on the facade and then we will visit its interior where I will tell you the story of Santa Zita, patron saint of Lucca. Two more steps to Piazza Anfiteatro, witness to the Roman origins of the city of Lucca, today it is home to several street markets and a destination for photographers but also for those who want to enjoy an aperitif at sunset in a fascinating atmosphere. We continue towards the Guinigi tower with the holm oaks on the top, an unmistakable symbol of the profile of Lucca. We end our tour a little further on, at Palazzo Bernardini, where I will tell you how the Devil put his tail there!

Meet your private driver/ guide at 08:00 as close as possible to your ship's arrival for the pleasant hour drive to the charming medieval city of Lucca. It is a city enclosed and protected through the centuries by an imposing 16th century wall, which is one of the best preserved Renaissance defenses in Europe. The wall has helped keep the city's original features and Roman street plan intact. You may enjoy starting off your day with a bike ride on top of the walls along the beautiful tree-lined promenade where you can peer down into the palazzi and piazzas of the old city or look up to views of the surrounding hills. Bike rental will be an additional (optional) cost paid on the day of your tour at 5 EUR per bike per hour. Discover the city's Roman features with the Church of San Michele in Foro standing on the site of the original Roman forum. It was here that Giacomo Puccini began his musical career as a choir boy. Strolling along the lively shopping street of Via Fillungo, you will arrive at the Church of San Frediano with its 6th century origins. See the tomb of Saint Zita (1278), mentioned by Dante in the Inferno, whose mummified body can be seen through glass. Discover the unique shaped arena, Piazza Anfiteatro, constructed in the 1st century A.D. under Emperor Claudius with 54 arches and a cave able to hold as many as ten thousand spectators in 18 rows of seats. The base of the original amphitheater is now some 3 meters below the center, which was reconstructed in the 1800s as the town's marketplace. The Cathedral of San Martino houses the precious holy relic, the Volto Santo, a cedar wood crucifix said to be a true portrait of Jesus sculpted by Nicodemus, an eyewitness to the crucifixion. Also see the remarkable marble tomb of Ilaria del Caretto and Tintoretto's infamous 'Last Supper.'  The city is filled with artisans and tempting delicatessens offering Tuscan specialties, and Lucca is particularly renowned for its olive oil. Not to be missed are the underground cellars of Enoteca Vanni, offering a tempting selection of wines from all over Italy. Lunch will be at your own cost, and your driver can make recommendations and point you in the right direction. You may even have time to enjoy lunch at a local vineyard on the outskirts of town before taking the short drive to the 11th century powerful maritime republic of Pisa. Enjoy a driving tour of the city, which will lead you to the heart of one of the most important monuments in Italy, the breathtaking Piazza dei Miracoli with its Baptistry, the cathedral, Campo Santo Cemetery and of course, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You will be free to explore some of the city on foot before meeting up with your driver for the return journey back to your ship in the port of Livorno with arrival at around 17:00.