Lucca is certainly one of the most beautiful cities to see in Tuscany! Get a bicycle and start exploring this quiet town with labyrinthine alleys, where the charm of each building will leave you speechless. Since Roman times, the historic center of Lucca has expanded around its famous amphitheater enriching itself with infinite beauties to see.
Also, its ancient walls offer breathtaking views of the whole city, where you will surely notice two tall towers rising above all the other palaces. These are Torre Guinigi and Torre delle Ore, the tallest buildings in the city and certainly two of the most symbolic.
Want to know more about these historic monuments? Read on to discover the history and some important information you will need to organize a visit to these magnificent towers!
While some centuries ago the towers of Lucca were more than a hundred, nowadays there are just a few left. In fact, these buildings have reached excessive heights and their instability has caused numerous collapses. The reason behind the decision of keep increasing their height was a medieval belief, according to which those who built the highest tower were worthy of greater respect, honor and prestige. On the other hand, some towers were voluntarily demolished by order of Castruccio Castracani.
Torre Guinigi is located in Via S. Andrea 45, on the corner with Via delle Chiavi D'Oro. On top of its 45 meters there is a spectacular ambiance: a hanging garden with seven secular oaks! It seems that one of these trees was planted by Paolo
Guinigi in person and a legend tells that one of the
holm oaks predicted its death losing all the leaves when he was captured and imprisoned by Francesco Sforza. The tower was built at the beginning of the fourteenth century by the Guinigi family and it is a beautiful example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture. To admire the view from the top and visit this wonderful garden, however, you have to climb 20 flights of stairs! While the first steps are quite easy, the last ones are steep and smaller ... but don't worry: the view from the top floor will pay off for all the effort!
Instead, Torre delle Ore or "dell'Orologio" dates back to the 13th century and is located in Via Fillungo, on the corner with Via dell'Arancio. It has belonged to several important families of Lucca, but its notoriety is mostly linked to some gloomy legends. According to a popular belief, a noblewoman named Lucida Mansi would have made a pact with the
devil to stop time and stay young forever. Thirty years later, at midnight on August 14, 1623, the devil returned for
demand payment of his debt. The woman climbed running into the tower to stop the bell ringing, but she failed. The devil then took the
his soul and his body fell into the pond of the Botanical Garden, where it seems that her ghost still
appears on full moon nights. The "Tower of the Hours" is 50 meters high and its famous clock has a dial with Roman numerals and a single hand. Although it dates back to 1752, the tower already had a clock in 1390 and it was precisely because of its importance that the building was never demolished. Climbing the 207 wooden steps of this tower you will then be able to observe the magnificent mechanism of this vintage clock, as well as enjoying a breathtaking view over the whole city.
The entrance ticket for each tower costs € 5, but you can also buy a cumulative tickets to visit the Botanical Gardens, the Tower of the Hours and Torre Guinigi. In addition to these attractions, don't forget to see the other city towers, like Torre del Veglio in Piazza San Salvatore and Torre del Travaglio in Via Fillungo!
Are you ready to organize your visit to Lucca? Book one of our properties in the town's centre, like Flavia Apartaments or Villa de Ranieri!
© Alice Pilastri
