City walls of Lucca, Renaissance city walls in Lucca, Italy
The City Walls of Lucca form a continuous ring of brick and earth that encircles the entire old town, shaded by plane trees planted along the top. Six gates cut through the fortifications, while eleven projecting bastions mark the outer perimeter.
Construction began in the early 16th century when the city government decided to replace medieval walls with a modern defensive line. The work stretched over more than a century and was completed only in the mid-1600s.
Local residents treat the fortifications as a linear park, often jogging or meeting friends along the shaded paths that run along the top. The tree-lined route became a social gathering space where people walk their dogs and children play under the branches.
Access to the upper path is possible through all gates, and the route suits both pedestrians and cyclists equally. Comfortable shoes help when walking on the partly uneven surface, especially after rain.
In the early 19th century, the closed gates of this structure held back the flooding Serchio and saved the entire city from inundation. This unexpected success solidified the symbolic value of the fortifications far beyond their military function.
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