Lucca is located on a plain at the foot of the Apuan Alps and is less than half an hour from the coast of Versilia.

Most of the main attractions in Lucca show its ancient history: from the trace of the Roman amphitheatre that can be seen in the shape of the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro to the archaeological remains under the 12th century church of Saints Giovanni and Reparata (the first city cathedral, located just around the corner from the present-day cathedral of San Martino), to the various towers and villas from the 12th to 16th centuries.

As the city grew and modernized, the walls that surrounded the old town were maintained which was not the case for many other cities in Tuscany, including Florence. As the walls lost their military importance, the top of the walls became a pedestrian promenade, today one of Lucca's main attractions. The area around the walls is well taken care of, with green grass and trees everywhere along the walls. 

The Composer Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) was born in Lucca. The 15th century house where he lived has now been turned into a museum and contains many fascinating artefacts.