Day trip to Lucca from Viareggio by train: a one-day itinerary

Day trips in Versilia · 3 min read

Lucca is the perfect day trip from Viareggio: close, reachable by train and steeped in history. Here's a one-day walking itinerary for anyone setting off from Versilia without a car.

Getting there

Regional trains run from Viareggio to Lucca: the journey takes roughly 20–30 minutes. Times and tickets are on the Trenitalia website. From Lucca station you're a few minutes' walk from the Walls, near Porta San Pietro.

A ring of tree-lined walls, half an hour by train from the sea.

Stop 1: the Walls

Lucca's Renaissance walls are the city's symbol: a ring of about 4.2 km, walkable all the way round on top, lined with trees and turned into a park. A full lap on foot takes about an hour; many people do it by bike, hired in town. It's the best way to grasp the shape of the city from above.

Stop 2: San Martino Cathedral

Heading into the centre, the Cathedral of San Martino greets you with its Romanesque façade. Inside you'll find the Volto Santo, a deeply venerated wooden crucifix, and Jacopo della Quercia's funerary monument to Ilaria del Carretto.

Stop 3: Puccini

Lucca is Giacomo Puccini's birthplace. In the old town you'll find the house where he was born, now a museum, and a statue in Piazza Cittadella. If you've seen Torre del Lago, this closes the circle: he lived and composed there, and was born here.

Stop 4: Piazza dell'Anfiteatro

One of the most photographed squares in Tuscany: it's oval because the houses were built on the remains of the Roman amphitheatre. Walk in through one of the archways and you're in a "courtyard" ringed by colourful façades. Ideal for a coffee break.

Stop 5: Torre Guinigi

Recognisable from afar by the holm oaks growing on its top. You climb on foot (about 230 steps, no lift), and from the top you see the whole city with the Apuan Alps behind.

Stop 6: Via Fillungo and San Michele

Via Fillungo is the shopping street, with old shop signs and boutiques. Nearby, the church of San Michele in Foro stands where the Roman forum once was, with a richly decorated Romanesque façade.

Suggested itinerary

1. Morning: train, lap of the Walls (on foot or by bike).
2. Late morning: San Martino Cathedral.
3. Lunch: Lucchese cooking (try a spelt soup).
4. Afternoon: Puccini, San Michele, Via Fillungo, Piazza dell'Anfiteatro.
5. Before your train: Torre Guinigi for the view.

When to go

Any time of year. In autumn Lucca Comics & Games draws huge crowds: wonderful if you're into it, best avoided if you want peace and quiet. In summer, Lucca is also a cool alternative to the beach on cloudy days.

Tips

• Comfortable shoes: Lucca is best explored on foot.
• Check opening times and tickets for Torre Guinigi and the museums on the official websites.
• A printed guidebook helps you discover the many smaller churches.

Guidebook to Lucca and Tuscany (Amazon.it)

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Sources: Turismo Lucca – Mura FAQ · Lucca24 · Wikipedia – Lucca · Trenitalia. General information: opening times, prices and dates change, so always check the official websites.