Music and Giacomo Puccini are two points of reference tied to history and harmony. To acquaint oneself with Lucca, they can also be perceived as two of the fundamental elements generated by a territory rich in history, culture, and tradition.
Visitors will be surprised to discover how many other artists have left mementos of their passage through Lucca and how many major events have been held here, to present day. Past musicians like Boccherini, Paganini and contemporary ones like Chet Baker and The Rolling Stones, to name a few, have all been protagonists in Lucca’s still vibrant musical journey.
Our guided tour consists of a pleasant stroll through town, accompanied by excerpts of the artists’ most significant and famous compositions.
So, in addition to getting to know the history of Lucca, it will be possible to become acquainted with the musicians, hear anecdotes about their lives and the places in town connected to them, including the Puccini Museum and the Teatro del Giglio.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Professional guide
Itinerary
1
Teatro del Giglio
The meeting point with the guide is at the ticket office of the theatre, Teatro del Giglio. The tour begins with a visit to the theatre’s interior accompanied by excerpts of music performed here in the past; the construction of the theatre dates to 1675.
Duration: 30 minutes
2
Piazza Napoleone
Back outside the theatre, the guide will explain about the adjacent Piazza Napoleone and the rock, pop, jazz, and soul concerts that have been held in this location for the past 20 years with headliners such as David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Elton John and even the Rolling Stones.
Duration: 15 minutes
3
Duomo Di San Martino
The next stops are at the neighboring Church of San Giovanni and the Cathedral San Martino, both of which have produced musicians and music of great quality thanks to the recurring religious celebrations held through the centuries. The Puccini family were organists of the Cathedral for 124 consecutive years.
Duration: 15 minutes
4
Piazza Anfiteatro
The tour proceeds along Lucca’s narrow medieval streets to the Conservatory named after the illustrious cellist and composer, Luigi Boccherini, another native son. The institute was founded by the composer Giovanni Pacini in 1842 and Puccini’s father was its director for the two years preceding his untimely death.
Next is a visit to the characteristic oval-shaped Piazza dell’Anfiteatro where gladiators battled in Roman times. Today it is the location for markets and performances, including jazz concerts.
Duration: 15 minutes
5
Palazzo Pfanner
You then pass alongside the residence where Niccolò Paganini, the famous violinist, lived while in town during the first decade of the 1800s when Elisa Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister, reigned over Lucca. These were the years when Paganini’s career began to flourish. You will hear the languid notes of one of his famous guitar and violin serenades, which were composed in Lucca.
Close by is the splendid late-17th century Baroque garden of Palazzo Controni-Pfanner, a magnificent example of the gardens of that time – veritable three-dimensional outdoor stage sets.
In Via degli Asili, the guide will point out the plaque dedicated to the memory of the composer, Alfredo Catalani, accompanied by the notes of his most successful opera, La Wally. Catalani died at the young age of 39.
Duration: 15 minutes
6
Puccini Museum - Casa Natale, Lucca
At the garden of Palazzo Diodati-Orsetti, there is another plaque, this one dedicated to the great violinist and composer Francesco Geminiani. He migrated from Lucca to England in the early 18th century and spent his last years in Ireland where he ultimately passed away.
From here, Piazza San Michele, considered the center of Lucca, is just a short walk away. The tour ends with a visit to the nearby Puccini Museum, birthplace of the most famous composer and celebrity of Lucca, Giacomo Puccini.
Duration: 30 minutes
Additional info
• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Bilingual tour in Italian and English
• Adult rate applies to travelers 15 years and older
• Children rate applies per child up to 15 years if accompanied by a paying adult
• Meeting point by the Ticket Office Teatro del Giglio at 10.45 am, beginning of the tour at 11.00 am
