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Lucca Historical centre

Lucca still seems today like a labyrinth of squares and lanes which get narrower and more concealed the closer one gets to the heart of the centre. Visitors to Lucca not only admire the historic beauties of the town but can also indulge their palates in the mouth-watering local specialities. One can go shopping in the Via Fillungo (the most famous shopping mile of the centre) where boutiques, antique shops, coffee bars and “trattorias” characterize the townscape.
Very near to the Fillungo is the place drama lovers went to the theatre during the period of the Romans. Centuries later houses were built on the foundations of this imperial theatre and so the oval shaped “Piazza del Anfiteatro” was born. This square is one of the most picturesque in the whole of Italy and one of the most well- known in the whole world. It is a “must” for every tourist because you can still see the remains of the original town wall.
Lucca is rich in history and famous for its numerous churches which has given it its nick- name “the town of the 100 churches”. Among all the marble treasures which Lucca offers its visitors is the Cathedral of San Martino, situated in the very heart of the centre and it is certainly the most famous. The cathedral was built in the 15th century and houses various important works of art such as the “frescos” of Nicola Pisano, the Lord’s Supper of Tintoretto and the altar-painting of Del Ghirlandaio. The most important is of course the tomb of Ilaria del Carretto who passed away at the age of 29, the wife of Mr. Paolo Guinigi (see Guinigi tower and palazzo Guinigi) situated in the sacristy of the cathedral and it was sculpted by Jacopo della Quercia.

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