clock tower

Located on the River Serchio in Tuscany is the charming medieval town of Lucca. It is particularly famous for its intact Renaissance-era city walls, which are now a poetic pedestrian promenade that encircles the old town. It is also known as the birthplace of the famed composer Giacomo Puccini.

Originally founded by the Etruscans, Lucca became a Roman settlement around 180 BCE. The town slowly grew following Roman urban planning with forums, squares and theatres; in fact, the influence of an amphitheatre can be seen in the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. During the early middle ages, Lucca was an important fortified town, later flourishing in the 11^th century via the profitable silk trade that rivaled even Byzantium’s in terms of quality. Over the centuries, Lucca was occupied, sold, surrendered and liberated a number of times until the town managed to claim independence in the early 17^th century. It maintained it until it was conquered by Napoleon in 1805, then eventually lost independence in the mid-19^th century and gradually became part of the newly unified Italian State.