Torre Guinigi Rooftop Garden
Climbing the 230 brick steps of the 14th-century Torre Guinigi is rewarded with one of the most surreal viewpoints in all of Italy: a small garden of holm-oak trees growing from the tower's summit, their roots threading through the medieval masonry. The 360-degree panorama over Lucca's roofscape is unmatched.
The Trees That Defy Logic
The seven holm oaks (Quercus ilex) at the top were planted by the powerful Guinigi merchant family in the early 15th century as a symbol of their dynastic ambitions — the roots have since grown so deep into the tower that removing the trees would destabilise the structure.
From ground level you can spot the leafy canopy bobbing above the roofline before you even find the tower entrance on Via Sant'Andrea — it is a genuinely disorienting sight.
In spring the oaks push out fresh bright-green growth that contrasts vividly with the warm terracotta below; in autumn the light turns the leaves a burnished gold.
The View From the Top
At 44 metres, the tower is not the tallest in Lucca but its central position gives unobstructed sightlines in every direction: the Romanesque striped marble of San Martino cathedral to the south, the oval ghost of the Roman amphitheatre (now Piazza dell'Anfiteatro) to the north-east, and the Apuan Alps on clear days.
The climb is steep and the staircase narrow — single file only — so avoid the 11 am–2 pm rush when tour groups arrive. Late afternoon light is best for photography.
Admission is €5 and the tower is managed by the Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca; combined tickets with the Torre delle Ore (the clock tower) are available for €7.
More of Lucca
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Lucca →
