The entire historic centre is surrounded by massive brick walls, which are separated from modern Lucca by a wide green belt.

Unlike most other Italian towns, which have expanded over the centuries and gradually lost their walls, Lucca has retained an intact ring of solid fortifications to this day.

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Wide pedestrian promenades run along the walls, with many benches and trees providing pleasant shade on hot summer days. Particularly popular is the northern part of the walls around the Basilica of San Frediano, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Apuan Alps.

The ramparts as they are today were built between the 16th and 18th centuries and can only be passed through 5 gates from modern Lucca:

• Porta San Pietro - the main gate of the southern part towards the train station.
• Porta Sant'Anna - gate of the western part near the bus station
• Porta Santa Maria - gate of the northern part towards the mountains
• Porta di San Jacopo - a smaller and later completed gate in the northeast
• Porta Elisa - gate leading eastwards

In addition, however, you can pass through the walls through several narrow pedestrian passages, for example directly from the train station.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Lucca.