Pisa, July 2nd, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – Giuseppe Garibaldi has the best spot in Lucca. From the pedestal of his monument, the general who lived from 1807 to 1882 who became a hero by contributing to Unification of Italy, can watch countless Americans walk by, at 36 degrees Centigrade (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Those tourists from overseas walk the city’s alleyways in groups. While they follow their guide, they stare at all the beauty in disbelief. Yes, 250 years of history are impressive. But how about 2244 years? Yes, that long ago, Lucca was mentioned by the historian Livius.
While Lucca is just as large as Pisa, which is 20 kilometers (twelve miles) away, it is about ten times as beautiful as its neighboring city in Italy’s Tuscany region. In the 13th and 14th century, Lucca was one of the most influential cities in Europe. Today, it is a tourist magnet, but also an important industrial location. Encompassed by its old city walls which were built from 1504 to 1645, Lucca’s historic center is well-kept, clean and beautiful, and it testifies to its wealth.
Walking through all of those alleys and getting lost in them makes visitors think about what the atmosphere at this spot might have been like some 500 years earlier. At the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, a big round square that breaks the angular texture of the rest of the city, those tourist groups take breaks in order to give those people from Philadelphia, Perth or Passau the opportunity to grasp the stunning beauty around them. Is this a film set or is it real? The answer lies within.
Which is Which?
Lucca has about a million sightseeing spots. It is hard to keep track of all of those churches. Which one is San Michele in Foro? That one is easy. It’s the big one with the beautiful facade. But what about San Martino Cathedral? Oh, that one has this extra-high tower. Then, there are San Frediano, San Francesco, Sant’Alessandro, San Salvatore and Santi Giovanni e Reparata. Do I know which is which? No.
At the next corner, another big square appears. Here, workers are preparing the Lucca Summer Festival (LSF) by setting up a giant stage as well as stands for the audience expected here. One thing is certain: Lucca does have some taste. At the café where we consume cold beverages and a Caesar Salad, Jazz-Funk tunes by Incognito and Jamiroquai come through those loudspeakers. That very same Jamiroquai is scheduled to hit the LSF’s big stage on July 4th. The Soul sensation John Legend will be there a day later. Katy Perry, the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood, with his own band, Tom Jones, but also the American slap bass hero Marcus Miller and Italy’s own Blues voice Zucchero will all hit that stage before the month of July ends.
Sweating like pigs, we hop on another train in the early afternoon. Our next destination: Viareggio, a big beach resort that turns out to be almost empty. Who were all of these restaurants, ice cream parlors and café built for? We are virtually alone, as we walk from the train station towards the beach. Here, we meet a bunch of teenagers playing ball and a handful of Russian holiday makers.
Cool and Refreshing
Well, the extremely wide sandy beach could have accommodated tens of thousands of people. Hardly anyone was there. The arrogant, blonde life guard with his boat tan keeps himself busy by chasing away those teenagers, even though they didn’t disturb anyone. Yes, that’s because nobody was there. We enjoy entering the cool and refreshing Ligurian Sea a few times. Then, we walk back to the train station.
The locations of Pisa, Lucca and Viareggio form a triangle. From Pisa, Lucca and Viareggio are the perfect locations for a nice day trip.
