Guide to Lucca

"It's all about the history in little Lucca – a typically tuscan town so steeped in its musical past that you can almost hear the melodies of Madame butterfly floating on the sun-scorched air."

Lucca is a small town with a long history stretching back to the Roman era. But one of its most important days didn't happen until 1858 - the birth of the town's most famous son, Giacomo Puccini. Maybe his years growing up in the winding streets of Lucca inspired him to create those masterpieces of Italian opera; La Boheme, Tosca and Madame Butterfly. Compositions so emotive they are still opera's most favourite pieces well over a century later. Lucca celebrates the life of Puccini with typically Italian style and panache. The 15th century house where he was born has been transformed into a museum with a fascinating collection of memorabilia; portraits of the composer, stage costumes and, most importantly, the piano at which he worked to create his masterpieces. But Lucca, of course, was not born on that day in 1858. It was raised by the Romans some two thousand years previously and to this day its street plan follows the traditional Roman grid system. One of the central squares, the Piazza del Mercato, echoes the elliptical shape of the old Roman amphitheatre upon which it was built - even the towns walls are some of the most complete you'll find in Europe. The 11th century saw the construction of the Cathedral of San Martino, itself a symphony of tiered marble designed in the splendidly robust Pisan-Romanesque style, whilst later came the medieval Torre del Guinigi – old and grand enough to have oak trees sprouting from its ramparts! In fact, Lucca has resisted the ravages of the modern world so well that Puccini would still feel very much at home here. So make the most of what the town has to offer – peace, relaxation and a sense of history like no other. Spend lazy Tuscan days wandering through the streets. Visit the Puccini museum for some fitting gifts to take home. Or simply grab a table at a square-side cafe, order a frothy cappuccino and indulge in the much-loved Italian pastime of people watching. Bliss.

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