Buying property in Lucca, Tuscany’s cooler hotspot

The rich and famous have been flocking to Lucca lately, as a new movie is filmed within its famous old walls. But you don’t need a Hollywood income to buy a home in this Tuscan city with the movie-star looks. Let’s check out the highlights.

Lucca, on Italy’s north-western coast, in the region of Tuscany, has everything you could want from your Italian lifestyle. From a historic and cultural walled city, to charming villages and seaside resorts, it all comes with a smaller price tag when buying property here than several other provinces, including Florence.

As well as being a superb base from which to enjoy all the benefits of Tuscany, Lucca itself has much to offer. That goes both for the city and the province. Lucca is one of the 10 provinces of Tuscany. At 1,770 square kilometres, it is about the size of a small English county, with just under 400,000 people and a narrow coastline.

The city of Lucca has 90,000 people, most famous for its old city walls, 100 churches, circular Piazza dell’Anfitheatro, and the Guinigi tower (recognised by the trees on the top). It has great restaurants, concerts and events throughout the year.

However, there are other attractions in and around Lucca that are making it popular among visitors, with a wide selection of interests, from opera to comic books.

So, once considered the hidden gem of Tuscany, what is bringing so many people to Lucca these days?

Lucca’s famous sights

Old city walls

The walls that surround the old town have a wide path on the top with trees for shade. It’s is a popular place to walk and cycle. Along the way you are treated to city views, historic bastions, and a botanical garden.

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

Built on the site of a Roman amphitheatre, Piazza dell’Anfiteatro has an unusual elliptical shape. Restaurants and shops curve around the piazza, and it is a lovely spot for summer concerts.

Towers

Once home to over 200 towers, there are now only nine remaining in Lucca. The most famous is Torre Guinigi. Built around 1384 using red brick, this 38 metre tower demonstrated its owners power and offered a defensive position and lookout. Torre Guinigi is particularly famous for its roof top garden with trees and superb views across the historic centre.

Churches

Known as the city of 100 churches, Lucca’s architectural highlights include the Cathedral of San Martino, the Basilica of San Frediano and the church of San Michele.

Lucca’s cultural highlights

The Italian composer Giacomo Puccini (Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Turandot and others) was born in Lucca in 1858. After Verdi he was considered the greatest composer of his time. As a child he took part in music events in the Cathedral of San Martino, in the boy’s choir and later as organist. He got a diploma in 1880 from the Pacini school of music in Lucca. This Music Institute is still running today and there are now several music schools in Lucca.

Lucca caters for fans of many types of music from pop to opera. There are frequent concerts in the theatres, churches, piazzas and streets of the city. The Lucca Summer Festival attracts internationally renowned music artists that appeal to many age groups and musical tastes. These have included Robbie Williams, Bob Dylan, KISS and Justin Bieber.

The concerts usually take place in early summer, when they can be performed outside. In 2024 the Lucca Summer Festival will host many world famous performers, including Ed Sheeran, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Lenny Kravitz, Sam Smith, Mika and Duran Duran.

Teatro del Giglio plays host to some of the best Italian companies performing opera, dance, and music. Other theatres in Lucca include Teatro di San Girolamo, which dates back to 1819 and Teatro Comunale Accademico which was built in 1790.

The Lucca Film Festival also brings the stars including, in recent years Susan Sarandon, Martin Freeman and Rupert Everett. In 2024 the festival takes place from 21st– 29th September.

All types of culture are welcome in Lucca, and since 1996 it has hosted the world-famous Comics and Games International convention on the last weekend of October. Popular comics, cartoons, games and video games are all represented on hundreds of stalls, and in shows and reenactments across the city. You don’t need to be a big fan to join in the fun either. Whilst merely walking down the streets you’ll be transported into a fantasy world with people dressed up as their favourite comic or gaming characters.

Lucca the film star

The wonderful architecture of Lucca makes it perfect for use as a movie backdrop. This brings money into the city not only during filming, but film location tourism being popular it attracts a different tourism market too.

Filming in Lucca in 2024

British filmmaker Peter Greenaway has been filming in Lucca this spring. He first fell in love with Lucca when a guest at the Lucca Film Festival, and has long been inspired to make a movie here.

With a working title of Lucca Mortis, it’s about a New York writer who visits Lucca in search of his Italian ancestry. He believes he was abandoned as a foundling in the city of Lucca at the end of World War I. However, the film is set in 2001, the year of the attack on the twin towers in New York and apparently the film creates a parallel with the towers of Lucca.

The stars of the film are Dustin Hoffman and Helen Hunt, who have been spotted all around Lucca, eating at restaurants and sitting at cafes and filming scenes. When interviewed by La Nazione news, they both expressed their love of Lucca and a desire to come back for a holiday. Dustin Hoffman said “Seeing Lucca is a gift, just as having the opportunity to work here is a gift.”

Lucca’s shopping

Lucca for antiques

When it comes to furnishing your Italian property, a trip to an antiques market can result in that special find that makes a focal point in your new home. Lucca antiques market is among the oldest and most famous in Tuscany. The Mercato Antiquario Lucchese is held every third weekend of the month. Covering several piazzas and Via del Battistero the event hosts over 220 stands.

Lucca for flowers

The Flower Festival in April is a colourful celebration honouring Saint Zita, the patron saint of flowers. Thousands of visitors gather outside the church of San Frediano to see beautiful flower displays, along with people dressed in medieval costume. In both San Frediano and Scalpellini Piazzas there will be gardens set up in collaboration with Opera delle Mura, and in Piazza Anfiteatro there are flower and nursery exhibitors. The event is a wonderful opportunity to get flower ideas for your own home.

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The affordable side of property in Tuscany

Average property prices are over €5,000 per square metre in the historic centre of Florence and just €2,300 in the historic centre of Lucca (April 2024). While it’s clear why property buyers have been looking for cheaper alternatives to Florence, prices have increased steadily in Lucca since 2021.

In some locations such as Piazza Anfiteatro, Piazza dei Cocomeri, Piazza San Gregorio, and Piazza dei Mercanti prices are approaching €3,000 per m²,. Prices can be even higher for sea view properties at the coastal resorts, that come under the province of Lucca.

However, if you go a little north of the city of Lucca the prices are much lower, between €1,000 and €1,400 per m2. Yet you are still within driving distance of the sea, airport and other attractions in Tuscany.

Getting to Lucca

Transport links to Lucca are excellent. Pisa airport is just 30 minutes drive from Lucca but there is also the option to fly to Florence (45 minutes) or Bologna (90 minutes).

Visiting your property in Lucca is easy by rail too. There are good rail connections from Pisa in 45 minutes, Florence in just over an hour and Milan in three to four hours.

Rental returns in Lucca

For those who are buying property to rent to tourists, the prospects are also looking good. According to data from the Tourism Office of Lucca, the Lucca area saw an increase of overnight stays of nearly 15% in the first half months of 2023. International arrivals were up by 21%, with total arrivals reaching 237,332.

Non-hotel accommodation providers saw the biggest increase of overnight stays (+19%), while hotels saw an increase of 5.7%.

Lucca for beautiful properties

Palazzo houses

Lucca has some beautiful, ancient houses. A thousand years ago the merchants of Lucca started to become enriched by the the silk trade, and the results of their wealth can be seen all around the town. There are at least ten important “Pallazzo” houses in Lucca, once owned by noble families.

Although the facades of some are not particularly ornate (apart from their large door surrounds), a peep inside can reveal rooms worthy of a palace. Look out for beautiful ceiling frescoes.

One of the finest examples is Palazzo Pfanner, built for a family of silk merchants, the Moriconis, in the 1660s. A monumental staircase was completed in 1686, and there are some amazing frescoes that give further height to the central hall by using architectural elements painted in perspective. Due to its impressive architecture and garden, it has become famous as a film set several times, such as in Portrait of a Lady (Jane Campion, 1996).

Apartments in the historic centre

As some buildings in the historic centre are split into apartments, it’s possible to experience the special atmosphere found here at affordable prices. Apartments start at around €220,000. An elegant three-bedroom apartment with breathtaking frescoed ceilings might cost from €750,000.

Country villas

The large 17th century countryside villas have their own particular style, with double stairways to the front and a row of arches on the rear, with a terracotta roof and wooden shutters. Inside there are often the original tiled floors, frescoes and wooden beams. A large villa needing renovation can be bought for less than a million euros. However, a villa in good condition sells for well over four million.

Village houses

In the villages you’ll find small stone houses at great prices. The further you go north of Lucca the cheaper they get. A stone cottage in a village around 30 minutes drive north of Lucca can cost from €75,000. Typically, they have stone walls, terracotta roofs and flooring, plus wooden shutters and beams. They are becoming very popular with buyers wanting a cheap holiday home, and some villages are conveniently located near a train station.

Seaside homes

One of the great positives about Lucca is that it’s only 30 minutes’ drive from the sea. Even over the autumn and spring months you can enjoy quiet walks along the coast. There are restaurants and shops open throughout the year in the bigger towns, such as Viareggio, which has many year round residents.

Viareggio by the sea

The town comes under the province of Lucca and is part of an area called Versilia. Viareggio is most famous for its Liberty architecture with the best examples being along la Passeggiata Margherita. The big event of the year is the carnival in February, which is second only to the famous Venice Carnival.

With a population of over 60,000 the town has everything you need for year-round living. Small apartments can be found for around €200,000, but if you want to be close to the sea, prices start at around €350,000 and go into the millions.