There are cities that you visit. And then there are cities that you experience, step by step, hand in hand with your children. Lucca is one of these…
Enclosed by intact Renaissance walls, flat, safe, and green, Lucca is the perfect destination for families who want to combine relaxation, culture, and fun without stress.
Lucca is a city that looks like a large park thanks to its walls. In fact, the walls of Lucca are not just a monument: they are a real 4-kilometer-long elevated park. Here, children can ride bikes, run, play, and observe the city from above, while parents take their time by enjoying a walk. Strollers, scooters, and bicycles can be used everywhere in complete safety. And wherever you are in the city, you will find bike and tandem rentals on every corner.
The historic center is largely closed to cars, a detail that makes all the difference for those traveling with children. Distances are short, the streets are flat, and every corner hides a surprise: a square, a church, a fountain… and an artisan gelato shop.
The city involves every member of the family: children, teenagers, and adults. All the historical periods of the center of Lucca have left an indelible mark on the buildings. Everyone, children and adults alike, is amazed by the history that is so clearly visible and perceptible throughout the city.
Let’s start with the Roman period when the city was founded. There are remains of Roman walls in the southwestern part of the ancient city, where the church of Santa Maria della Rosa stands, built using part of those walls. The west wall of the church is, in fact, a remnant of the Roman walls. Then you will find Piazza dell’Anfiteatro which, as its name suggests, was a Roman amphitheater in ancient times. It has retained its elliptical shape and, in some places, still preserves its original structure: stones laid by the Romans 2000 years ago!
Dating back to the same period are the underground chambers of the church of Santi Giovanni e Reparata. The church was the first cathedral in Lucca, but its interior hides an archaeological area, as the baptistery was adjacent to it.
The archaeological area is open to visitors, and children can pretend to be archaeologists and imagine they are explorers: in the underground area, they will discover the remains of a mosaic floor that belonged to a Roman house (domus), the remains of columns from the early medieval church, basins where bricks were produced to build the church in the Middle Ages, and here and there, Lombard tombs.
Walking around Lucca, you will also find many churches: this is why Lucca is known as the City of 100 Churches. For example, the church of San Michele in Foro and the cathedral of San Martino feature many monstrous and fantastical figures such as human heads on animal bodies, two-headed beasts, two-tailed mermaids, and winged griffins—children have fun searching them! In addition, some churches host mummies, such as the aforementioned church of San Michele and the Basilica of San Frediano… but there are many others!
In fact, many pilgrims have passed through Lucca, and continue to do so, to visit the churches and above all to bring gifts to the saints present in the churches. The most famous and most venerated saint is the King of Lucca, His Majesty the Holy Face—a wooden crucifix which, according to legend, was partly carved by Saint Nicodemus and partly by an angel, from whom it takes its name, Holy Face. Pilgrims travel along the Via Francigena, which also stops in Lucca. At the Casa del Boia museum inside the San Salvatore bastion (Saint Savior), children can immerse themselves in the Via Francigena journey through interactive multimedia educational programs.
As you can see, history in Lucca is not boring. On the contrary, it can become a story to be experienced. Imagine being a merchant of the middle ages and you are at home that is a tower-house: you have your shop on the ground floor, but if you get hungry, you have to climb to the top of the tower because the kitchen was up there! There are two towers left in Lucca: the Torre delle Ore, which was a tower house but later became a civic tower. Climbing to the top of the tower, you can admire the mechanism of the hand-wound clock dating back to the 1700s.
The other tower is called Torre Guinigi because it belonged to the Guinigi family, one of the most illustrious families in Lucca at the end of the 14th century. This tower has centuries-old holm oaks at the top… aren’t you curious to know why these trees were planted?
During the Renaissance, the walls that we still see today were built to defend the city against the Florentines. The last duchess of Lucca, Maria Luisa di Borbone, converted the walls into a public park. In addition to offering walks and moments of relaxation, they also offer moments of fun, especially for children. In fact, some of the bastions of the walls can be visited. With a little imagination, children can pretend to be soldiers of the state of Lucca and envision positioning the cannons in the openings of the bastions to defend the city.
As you can see, all the monuments in Lucca stimulate children’s imaginations and intrigue adults!
In short… fun is guaranteed for all ages!