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Lucca city. Author Kasa Fue

Top 10 Facts about Lucca, Italy

Lucca is a city and commune in Tuscany, Central Italy. The city has a population of about 89,000 while its Province has a population of 383,95

It is known as one of the Italian Arts towns. This is because of its intact Renaissance-era city walls. Lucca is also well preserved historic Center.

The city is also the birthplace of numerous world-class composers, including Giacomo Puccini, Alfredo Catalani, and Luigi Boccherini.

The territory of Lucca today was certainly settled by the Etruscans dating from the 3rd century BC. However, the appearance of a real town was brought about by the arrival of the Romans.

It transformed into a town hall in 89 Bc. In 180 Bc, it obtained the status of a Roman colony. The rectangular grid of its historical centre preserves the Roman street plan.

Lucca was once plundered by Odoacer. The first Germanic King of Italy. Moreover, it was an important city and fortress even in the sixth century. This is when Narses besieged it for several months in 553.

Additionally, Lucca was the capital of a duchy from 576 to 797 under the Lombards. Which included a large part of today’s Tuscany and the province of Viterbo. During this time the city minted its coins.

Furthermore, Lucca is a beautiful tourist site. Let’s learn more about the city.

1. The City of Lucca was Founded by the Etruscans

The territory of present-day Lucca was settled by the Etruscans. Etruscans dated from the 3rd century. However, the city also has traces of earlier Ligurian presence. Ligurian presence is usually speculated as a possible origin for the city’s name.

2. The City Took on the Appearance of Real town with the Arrival of the Romans

Lucca, Italy. Author minniemouseaunt.

When the Romans arrived in Lucca. They transformed the city into an appearance of a real town in 89 BC. However, the city obtained the status of a roman colony in 180 BC.

The rectangular grid of its historical centre preserves the Roman street plan.  Piazza San Michele occupies the site of the ancient forum. Traces of the amphitheatre may still be seen in the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.

3. World War II Prisoner-of-war Camp was Established in this City

During World War II, a prisoner-of-war camp was established at the village of Colle di Campito about 11 kilometres from Lucca. The camp was established in 1942.

Its official number was P.G. 60. It was usually referred to as PG 60 Lucca. However, it never had permanent structures. The accommodation consisted of tents in an area prone to flooding.

The camp housed more than 3,000 British and Commonwealth prisoners of war during the period of its existence. In September 1943, it was handed over to the Germans. Not long after the signing of the Italian armistice.

 During the Italian Social Republic, as a puppet state of the Germans, political prisoners, foreigners, common law prisoners and Jews were interned there. Moreover, it functioned as a concentration camp. In June 1944 the prisoners were moved to Bagni di Lucca.

4. Lucca is Surrounded by 16th-Century Walls with Small Narrow Path Walks

Lucca, Italy, city walls with the Viale delle Mura Urbane for pedestrians. Author pt:Usuário:nemracc

The first walls of Lucca which few traces remain today were built by ancient Roman. Construction of the first medieval walls began in the 11th and 12th centuries. It was completed around the middle of the 14 century.

However, due to the urban expansion, the walls were extended. The last expansion of the walls, the fourth circle, was made with military technology. To guarantee the better defence of the city.   Construction work began in 1545 and was completed around 1650. The construction was carried out by important military architects.

Walls were built with eleven Rampart joined by curtains. The ramparts ensured the protection of a section of wall or a gate. Constructed in different shapes and with different characteristics.

The rampart of San Frediano, the oldest, is the only one of rectangular shape. Those built later were bastions of square nose type. Inside, the ramparts were big rooms for horses, soldiers and munitions.

The walls have three original gates in the Renaissance style. They are Porta San Pietro, the Porta Santa Maria, and the Porta San Donato. They were fortified.

The fourth gate was opened in 1811. Called Elisa in honour of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi. The gate did not have military features like the others. Two more gates, named the Vittorio Emanuele and the San Jacopo, were opened in 1911 and 1931.

However, the walls were never used in warfare. In 1799 the Austrians confiscated over 120 large-calibre cannons. since then the walls lost all military value.

 In the 19th century, Duchess Maria Luisa of Bourbon commissioned the royal architect Lorenzo Nottolini to arrange the walls definitively as a public walkway. The walls boast many spots to play and relax. Furthermore, equipped with benches, tables, drinking fountains and games for children.

5. The City has Several Oak Trees Growing Atop the Torre Guinigi Tower

Guinigi Tower with the trees over. Author Yellow.Cat.

The Torre Guinigi is a tower that is a typical example of local Romanesque-Gothic architecture. The height of the tower is 45 meters. It has a total of 233 steps to reach the top.

The picturesque tower dates from the 1300s. This was when several wealthy families were building bell towers within the walls of Lucca as status symbols.

It was one of the few remaining towers within the walls. The tower is known for the tall trees growing on top of the tower.

Additionally, the kitchen was originally on the floor below with the rooftop serving as a kitchen garden. Moreover, the tower was donated to the local government by the descendants of the Guinigi family.

6. It plays host to the National Museum of Villa Guinigi that is rich in late Gothic style

The Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi is the main art museum hosting the pre-modern art collections owned by the city of Lucca, Italy. The Gothic villa building was constructed from 1413 to 1418 for Paolo Guinigi. He was the ruler of Lucca until 1430.

The museum has an imposing brick Facade with a central ground-floor portico. It was once elaborately decorated by Guinigi.

However, after his death, the building was confiscated by the republic. It has served various purposes over the years.

The museum was selected in 1924 to house the art collection. In 1948, it was donated to the Italian state. Which carried out a more organized preservation campaign and at the same time rearranged the collection. It now houses collections of mainly the ancient, medieval, renaissance, baroque, and neoclassic periods

7. The City became Prosperous through the Silk Trade

Italy, Lucca – Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. Author dennis22photos.WIKIMEDIA

Lucca became prosperous through the silk trade. The trade began in the eleventh century. It came to rival the silks of Byzantium.

Lucca cloth was a silk fabric that was woven with gold or silver threads. It was a popular type of textile in Lucca throughout the mediaeval period.

8. Numerous World-class Composers were Born in Luca

Luca is the birthplace of numerous world-class composers. Such as Giacomo Puccini, who was known primarily for his operas.

He was regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera. Though his early work was firmly rooted in traditional late-19th-century Romantic Italian opera. He later developed his work in the realistic verismo style. Puccini became one of the leading exponents.

Other composers born in Lucca were Alfredo Catalani and Luigi Boccherini. It is also the birthplace of artist Benedetto Brandimarte.

9. It has Beautiful Communal Botanical Gardens

Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. Botanic garden. Author Palickap.

These gardens are expansive and cover two of the bastions on the city walls. Established in 1820 by the Duchess of Parma. They are extensive and feature some beautiful species of trees, plants and flowers.

Furthermore, there are several greenhouses, an arboretum, a herbarium and several ponds and water features. The Gardens are well maintained.

10. It is Known as the City of Many Churches

Lucca / Toscana – Backside of Cathedral and Campanile. Author Ingo Mehling.

Lucca has many medieval basilica-form churches with richly arcaded facades and campaniles. It also has a few eighth-century churches. Some of these churches are Lucca Cathedral, San Michele in Foro and SanSan Romano, and Luccat’Alessandro an example of medieval classicism.