You can climb up the tower for a fee You will get a beautiful bird's eye view of the city below…read more Lots of stairs but worth it. There's some congestion getting up to the roof but that's a must. It's like a small roof garden with a handful of trees.

By the end of - actually before the end of - three weeks in Italy I'd had enough of climbing to the…read moretops of towers. So much so that I took one look at Pisa's Leaning Tower and shrugged: No need to go up there. In Lucca though, there's but one tower and if you've never seen trees growing atop something that sits up hundreds of stairs here lies that opportunity. Torre Guinigi is 230 mostly wide stairs topped by a lookout area featuring a number of mature trees. During my visit, rains made the lookout area quite puddle-filled and getting around to the each side of the lookout area was made difficult as one isn't supposed to actually get up into the dirt area of the trees. It required some gymnastics but I was able to make my way around the space to view Lucca from above in all directions. Come in dry weather and you should have no such difficulties. For about 6 euro (less for students) you'll see Lucca from above and see the trees which grow way up there. This isn't the tallest lookout tower from which I observed Italy, nor is it the best (that'd be Florence's Duomo and, in second place, the nearby Bell Tower) but it's a fun and sweet little part of your day and something worth doing while in Lucca, even if only to say you did it.

Visiting this bridge was part of a longer drive we took through the Apuan Alps in Tuscany. When…read moreyou come upon it is quite eye-catching, even astonishing because of it's interesting slope, graceful curves and beautiful construction. This "Bridge of Maddalena"...named after Mary Magdalene of Biblical fame, is also known as Ponte del Diavolo or "The Devil's Bridge". It crosses the Serchio River near the town of Borgo a Mozzano in the province of Lucca. The bridge was built in the 12th century and it may have been commissioned by the Countess Matilda of Tuscany although this is uncertain. Historically, the bridge became an important method of crossing the river on the Via Francigena which was an early medieval road to Rome for people coming from France usually as a pilgrimage route. We thought the bridge was stunning to behold and found what history there is of it to be fascinating. As a popular legend of the bridge goes there were problems with its construction. It is said that the master builder (il capomastro) was frustrated by innumerable (12th century type) construction delays and therefore he made a pact with the devil. As the story goes, the devil told the capomastro that he would build the bridge for him over night but in return the devil wanted the soul of the first person to cross the bridge. The builder agreed to these terms but on the eve of the bridge's opening, he was filled with guilt and went to see his priest. The priest thought of a way to thwart the devil and so a dog was sent to cross the bridge early on "opening day". The devil was so angry at being tricked it is said that he threw himself and this poor dog into the Serchio river. People today say that at night you can on occasion still hear the howling of the poor dog. Whatever you want to call this bridge...Maddalena or Diavolo, it is well worth the drive to see it. Along the way you will see mountains and lush, verdant countryside so it is a drive very much worth taking. The entire area feels ancient and magical as does so much of Italy to me especially when you allow yourself to get off the beaten track.

This spot is a must-see when in Lucca. It's actually an old roman amphitheatre and held up to…read more10'000 spectators back in its time. After the Roman downfall it wasn't used as such anymore and was falling apart partly. In the end being used just for salt storage. Luckily in the 19th Century it was being rebuilt to what it is today. The shape is still visible as are some parts of the old Amphitheatre. Now it's a lively spacious square with lots of restaurants and cafés and shops. Since 2006 together with the old town of Lucca part of the UNESCO world heritage. It's fun to have a walk around the Anfiteatro, sitting down and having a drink, watching the world go by. A beautiful spot.

Very pretty piazza surrounded by shops and cafes. There is even a vintage shop in the square (very…read moreoverpriced!) and places to buy traditional ceramics. Just take a rest at one of the many cafes and enjoy a glass of wine while you people watch-that's what i do!

In the square we enjoyed pizza & gelato. I purchased unique beautiful hair clips or barrettes…read more This busy square is great for people watching. There were lots of cafés, shops, thanks, florists and churchgoers.

After visiting Pisa, we came to visit Lucca. Quite an interesting town. Walked around and you…read morereally need a good map to navigate in this walled-up town.

A pretty cathedral at the top of the hill in the old city of Barga and well worth the steep climb…read moreto view the wonderful vista of Barga and the surrounding scenery. Inside the cathedral are three altars and you can light a candle. There are several beautiful paintings on the walls alongside traditional stain glassed windows. After taking pictures take the climb down and enjoy a glass of the local wine in the piazza.