Easy hikes and walks around Lucca

Piazza Napoleone, commonly called Piazza Grande by the people of Lucca, is the main square and the nerve center of political, cultural, and social life in Lucca. Located in the southern part of the historic center, it is clearly distinguished from the city's classic dense network of medieval alleys thanks to its majestic rectangular layout and wide Parisian-style geometric lines.

There does not appear to be a statue dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II in Montefiascone. The king's name is associated with Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (the historic heart of the city, also known as Piazza del Popolo), in the center of which is a historic fountain designed by engineer Cesare Tuccimei and inaugurated in 1898, but not a monument celebrating the sovereign.

Very well-preserved large city gate. Lucca is indeed the best-preserved old town.

The Walls of Lucca are one of the most famous historical monuments in Italy, known worldwide for being the only Renaissance city walls to have survived completely intact to this day. Built between 1504 and 1648 mainly to defend against the expansionist ambitions of Florence, they completely surround the historic center of the city. During the 19th century, by the will of Maria Luisa of Bourbon, the military fortification was transformed into an immense elevated public park and a charming tree-lined promenade.

Whether on foot or by bike, crossing the Vagli lake on the Tibetan bridge gives you a little adrenaline rush, especially if you suffer from vertigo, but it is not dangerous at all and you see the panorama from a new perspective.

The construction of the hydroelectric dam, designed by Count Eng. Ignazio Prinetti Castelletti, began in 1941, slowed down during wartime, and was completed in 1947 under the supervision of SELT Valdarno (now Enel). In the period 1951-53, the dam was raised by about 30 m, bringing the overall height to about 88-92 m. The ordinary arch and gravity dam, built in concrete, has a crest 150 m long and 5 m wide, while the width at foundation level is about 70 m. The crest is accessible to the public all year round. The lake, artificially formed in 1947 by damming the Edron stream, constitutes the dam's reservoir. Upon filling, the rising lake waters submerged some villages, the main one being Fabbriche di Careggine, a small village of blacksmiths from Brescia, founded in the 13th century, which re-emerges with every emptying of the basin. Since the Vajont disaster, the basin has not been filled beyond 80% of its maximum capacity. The basin holds about 35 million cubic meters of water and is exceptionally emptied in case maintenance intervention is necessary. This has happened four times: in 1958, 1974, 1983, and 1994. In the latter year, almost 1 million tourists from all over the world arrived in Vagli.

La Torre delle Ore is the tallest civic tower in Lucca and one of the symbols of the historic center. Built in the Middle Ages, it houses an ancient, still functioning clock mechanism, which can be observed during the visit.

The Church of Santa Maria Forisportam is one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in Lucca. Its name means "outside the gate", as it was built outside the ancient city walls. The splendid white stone facade, rich in decorations and sculpted details, makes it one of the most characteristic churches in the historic center. The bell tower also has an upper part covered in light marble, a solution used to better reflect sunlight and make the tower more visible from afar.