Lucca is a beautiful city in Tuscany. Historic, well-preserved and pretty, there is lots to see and do and a wealth of culture and art. Merely wandering the lovely streets and soaking up the unique atmosphere is enough of an activity to please many. However, if you are having a wander, there is one particular area that we suggest you check out.
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro or, Amphitheatre Square, is a town square located in the heart of Lucca, named for the remains of a Roman amphitheatre on which it was built. The origins of the amphitheatre date back to the 2nd century and the area was redeveloped as a public square in the Middle Ages, with alterations and additions in the following centuries.
Even when the area was home to the amphitheatre, it was a public hub and space that attracted locals, who came to watch games and events that took place in the building. Though the space itself changed, this role did not and, even to this day, it remains a bustling part of the city that is always full of activity and life; though perhaps not quite the 10,000 spectators that could have been accommodated by the amphitheatre.
Public meetings were also held in the open space and buildings, such as store houses, were later gradually built to surround and enclose the space, creating the piazza. In the 19th century, the architect Lorenzo Nottolini, was commissioned to rebuild the piazza, using the roman ruins of the amphitheatre as an inspiration and it was opened and enlarged into the giant elliptical shape and urban centre that stands there today. Once the mains market square of the city, it is now a nice open space to grab a coffee, sit outside one of the many cafes or restaurants and take in the atmosphere. Just find a luxury villa in Lucca and unwind in this charming urban hub for yourself.
Even when the area was home to the amphitheatre, it was a public hub and space that attracted locals, who came to watch games and events that took place in the building. Though the space itself changed, this role did not and, even to this day, it remains a bustling part of the city that is always full of activity and life; though perhaps not quite the 10,000 spectators that could have been accommodated by the amphitheatre.
Public meetings were also held in the open space and buildings, such as store houses, were later gradually built to surround and enclose the space, creating the piazza. In the 19th century, the architect Lorenzo Nottolini, was commissioned to rebuild the piazza, using the roman ruins of the amphitheatre as an inspiration and it was opened and enlarged into the giant elliptical shape and urban centre that stands there today. Once the mains market square of the city, it is now a nice open space to grab a coffee, sit outside one of the many cafes or restaurants and take in the atmosphere. Just find a luxury villa in Lucca and unwind in this charming urban hub for yourself.
Photo credit: Graeme Maclean / CC BY 2.0
