Guinigi Tower

There are a few historic towers inside Lucca's city walls, but the most famous is the Guinigi Tower, which was built in the late 14th century as the place where a family of silk merchants lived and worked. At one time, Lucca had more than 200 such tower homes, but today there are only nine left. The Guinigi family once ruled Lucca, and the family's modern descendants bequeathed the tower to the city. The Guinigi Tower is particularly notable for its impressive rooftop garden. The garden dates from at least the early 17th century, and today has several ancient Holm oak trees growing there. The rooftop garden was renovated in the 1980s and is open to the public.

Practical Info

There is a climb of 230 steps inside the Guinigi Tower to access the rooftop garden. The garden is typically open from 9:30am-4:30pm (closing hours vary by season), and entry costs €4 for adults, €3 for seniors and children from 6-14 years.