Puccini, Palaces, and Peculiar Pasts: The Real Lucca Tour

A palace in Lucca, Palazzo Pfanner features a fine garden attributed to Filippo Juvarra, an external stairway with loggia, and a principal salon with frescoes by Scorsini and De Santi.

A Roman archaeological site, the Domus Romana is a unique discovery containing a frozen moment of architectural evolution, showcasing Roman, medieval, and Renaissance styles within a single structure, with prominent exhibits including ancient remains and artifacts.

A minor basilica in Lucca, Italy, characterized by its richly carved white marble interior and Romanesque architecture, featuring a notable baptismal font and several chapels adorned with frescoes and sculptures.

A piazza built within the ruins of a former 1st-2nd century BC Roman amphitheater in Lucca, Tuscany. The elliptical square is surrounded by private residences and outdoor cafes, with a central cross marking the four gateways.

A typical example of local Romanesque-Gothic architecture, the Torre Guinigi is a 45-meter tower with 233 steps to the top, featuring holm oaks growing on its summit.

A Roman Catholic oratory in Lucca, dating back to the 10th century, with a façade blending Romanesque and Gothic styles, and an interior featuring ancient tombs and a venerated image of the Crucifixion.

A former Roman Catholic church, the Chiesa del Suffragio in Lucca's historic centre was built in the 17th century and consecrated in 1646.

A medieval clock-tower, Torre delle Ore, is a turret clock located on Via Fillungo in central Lucca. Now owned by the Comune of Lucca, it houses a clock mechanism dating back to the 18th century and visitors can climb to view it.

A 12th-century church in Lucca, San Giusto features a mixed decoration façade with white and black stripes, a central portal with atlases and lions, and Lombard bands on the apse's exterior. Its interior was remade in the 17th century in Baroque style.

A Renaissance-style palace, built mainly during the 16th century, houses the courts of civil law in Piazza San Michele, Lucca. Its original structure dates back to 1370 as a tribunal and Hall of Justice, with later additions made in 1492 and 1588.

A 13th-century church building with a notable façade featuring sculptures and inlays, rebuilt after 1070 by order of Pope Alexander II.

A historic museum showcasing the birthplace and childhood home of Giacomo Puccini, with original furniture, personal belongings, and handwritten scores of his compositions.

A Baroque palace turned national museum, housing tapestry collections and post-19th century art, with many original room decorations remaining in place. The palace's piano nobile rooms feature grand decoration and a staircase, while the ground floor rooms were turned into a summer apartment.

A Roman Catholic church, also known as Santi Crocifisso dei Bianchi, refurbished in 1761 by Francesco Pini and decorated with frescoes by Lorenzo Castellotti. The church was previously called San Benedetto in Palazzo and housed valuable canvases before being deconsecrated in 2015.

A Renaissance-style minor basilica church in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, dedicated to Saint Paulinus of Antioch, patron of the city. It features a marble façade with statues of Saints Donato and Paolino, a marble choir, and rich frescoes.

A rare and well-preserved example of medieval classicism, Sant'Alessandro is a tribute to the survival of Roman architectural tradition in Italy during the Dark Ages, showcasing a sober classicist facade with alternating limestone bands.

A large palace of significant size, featuring a mix of Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles, owes its current appearance to various restorations and additions between the 16th and 19th centuries. Its interior halls house numerous artworks and decorative elements.

A historic theater and opera house, the Teatro del Giglio features a Neoclassical-style structure with a rusticated portico, pilasters, and a tympanum displaying the city's coat of arms, built in 1818.

A medieval church in Lucca, Italy, with origins dating back to the 5th century. The current structure was reconstructed in the 12th century and features a mix of Romanesque and Lombard architectural styles.

A historic square in the heart of Lucca, dominated by the Duomo of San Martino, with an asymmetrical façade and a campanile.

A Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, Lucca Cathedral features a mix of original and rebuilt structures, including a great apse, campanile, and 14th-century Gothic nave, as well as a vast portico and sculptures-adorned galleries.