Lucca is a city that amazes both above and below ground. While its famous Renaissance walls elegantly embrace the historic centre, they also hide a more mysterious and fascinating side: the fortified underground tunnels, accessible thanks to guided tours like Turislucca’s “Above and Below the Walls”.
If descending into Lucca’s underground means taking a journey through history and military engineering, about an hour away you can experience something even deeper—in every sense—by immersing yourself in the purest nature with a visit to the Grotta del Vento, in the heart of the Apuan Alps.
The Underground of Lucca: Human Ingenuity at the Heart of the Walls
Today, Lucca’s Walls form a vast pedestrian urban park that surrounds the historic centre for over four kilometers with a charming tree-lined promenade, ideal for walking or cycling. They are often the stage for cultural events like Lucca Comics & Games, a world-renowned comic and gaming festival, VerdeMura and Murabilia for gardening enthusiasts, or the Lucca Half Marathon, which starts right on the majestic walls.
The Walls of Lucca are not just an icon and a source of civic pride; they are a unique monument in European architecture: built during the Renaissance, about 12 meters high and 30 meters wide at the base, complete with their bastions, they represent one of the most important examples of Italian fortifications from that era.
Their wide, cool, and silent underground passages tell stories of soldiers, defensive strategies, and sixteenth-century engineering. Today, there are six main city gates, but it is also possible to enter through the posterns of the bastions, the so-called “sortite,” now mostly reopened and used as pedestrian walkways—once direct accesses to the moat for soldiers.
Thanks to the “Above and Below the Walls” itinerary organized by Turislucca, visitors can descend into some of these hidden areas, normally closed to the public, and discover tunnels, casemates, cannon chambers, and secret passages.
It’s a fascinating journey that lets us explore the walls both from the outside and deep within, entering the underground areas of some bastions restored thanks to major conservation work by the Municipality of Lucca and the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca.
Visiting these spaces means stepping into the underground soul of the city, through vaulted brick galleries and ancient cannon chambers, where military engineering speaks of centuries of history.
An experience that will delight history enthusiasts as well as those seeking unusual and evocative atmospheres.
An experience that, combined with a visit to the Grotta del Vento, offers a surprising underground journey—first among human creations, then among the marvels of nature. Two different but complementary worlds, both ready to amaze those who love to discover what lies beneath the surface.
The Grotta del Vento: Nature’s Art Carved in Darkness
If Lucca’s artificial underground tells the story of humankind, the natural underground of the Grotta del Vento tells the story of the Earth.
Located about an hour from Lucca, in the heart of the Apuan Alps, this cave is a natural masterpiece shaped by water over millions of years.
Spectacular limestone formations, stalactites and stalagmites, seemingly bottomless abysses, and crystal-clear lakes: every step reveals a new wonder.
Unlike Lucca’s fortifications—paths aside—there is no trace of human intervention here: everything was formed spontaneously, in a perfect balance of time, water, and rock.
The Grotta del Vento is open all year round, offering safe and well-equipped paths guided by highly specialized staff. There are three itineraries available, lasting 1, 2, or 3 hours, ideal for families, hikers, and curious visitors of all ages.
It’s an unmissable destination for nature lovers and for those seeking an exciting and unusual experience.
The cave is currently explored for over 4.5 kilometers, and several branches are believed to remain undiscovered.
The third itinerary (three hours) is the longest tour you can take in any tourist cave in Italy.
Two Worlds to Explore: Above and Below, City and Mountain
Visiting both the underground tunnels of Lucca’s Walls and the Grotta del Vento in the same itinerary means discovering two faces of hidden Tuscany:
- One created by human ingenuity
- The other shaped by the imagination of nature
It’s a complete experience that combines history and geology, culture and adventure—perfect for those who love to go beyond the surface.
Above all, it’s an original way to enrich a stay in Lucca with an excursion into the green landscapes of Garfagnana.
For more information about Lucca’s Walls and guided tours, visit: https://www.turislucca.com/sopra-e-sotto-le-mura/
We look forward to welcoming you to the Grotta del Vento!
