The first stop of any tour of the area must be Lucca itself, a city of ancient origins, surrounded by its boundary wall dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
This great work of military engineering, with its ramparts and bastions, is today a unique and scenic public area. Particularly evocative is the old town, which has kept intact its medieval appearance with typical narrow streets and squares overlooked by stone towers and tower-houses as well as brick houses with arcades. Among the most typical streets, Via Fillungo stands out, main axis of the medieval village, surrounded by noble buildings and ancient towers including the famous Torre delle Ore; Via Guinigi is worth a note too, where the complex of medieval buildings built by rich families is concentrated.
Religious architecture of particular importance includes the Cathedral of San Martino with its magnificent facade and interior rich in precious artworks; the Cathedral Museum that houses paintings, sculptures and liturgical furnishings; the church of San Michele in Foro, a unique example of Pisan-Lucchese architecture and the splendid Basilica of San Frediano.
Outstanding examples of civil architecture are: Villa di Paolo Guinigi (15th Century), site of the Museo Nazionale showcasing Etruscan and Roman archeological finds and several painting collections; Palazzo Mansi with its priceless furnishings and site of the second Museo Nazionale of Lucca; the seventeenth century Palazzo Moriconi-Pfanner, a magnificent example of Lucchese baroque, surrounded by a spectacular garden.
The birth house of the musician Giacomo Puccini is not to be missed too. It has been converted into a museum showcasing the maestro’s documents and mementoes.
The countryside around Lucca offers the opportunity to visit the wonderful villas, built from the late-sixteenth century to mid-nineteenth century as country residences and holiday homes for rich gentlemen, all set in the middle of picturesque parks. Among them two particularly stand out: Villa Torrigiani with its characteristic gardens and Villa Mansi, a splendid sixteenth century construction, with frescoed rooms and a grand garden designed by the architect Juvarra.
Among the historic sites, Altopascio was of great importance in medieval times thanks to its position along the Via Francigena. The village preserves Romanesque-style buildings, churches and the famous thirteenth century bell tower, which once guided travellers with its tolls.
From the slopes of the Apuane Alps to the Migliarino-San Rossore-Massaciuccoli National Park, the splendid Versilian coastline is a very attractive tourist destination, thanks to its enchanting scenery, rich vegetation and fascinating places, such as the romantic Torre del Lago Puccini with the villa-museum of Giacomo Puccini who here found inspiration for his Madame Butterfly.
Other tourist centres of Versilia are Viareggo, famous for its carnival but also for its beaches and nightlife, the elegant Forte dei Marmi, Pietrasanta with a rich artistic heritage and Camaiore with its Romanesque architecture. Do not miss the valleys of Serchio and Garfagnana with heir characteristic villages, among them Borgo a Mozzano, famous for its spectacular Devil’s Bridge, and Barga, an enchanting medieval village with fine architecture.
Other towns typical of Garfagnana are Castelvecchio Pascoli where you can visit the house-museum of the Italian poet Giovanni Pascoli along with the chapel that guards his remains and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, a village with cathedral and fortress nestled in a spectacular and inspiring landscape.