Tuscany's
Best-Kept Secret:
Why Lucca is the
2026 Must-Visit

For decades, the Tuscan trail was a well-trodden path between the Renaissance heavyweights of Florence and the leaning marvels of Pisa. But as we move into 2026, a new chapter is being written in the heart of Italy's most beloved region. GlamBon explores the rise of Lucca — the "undiscovered gem" that is finally, and deservedly, having its moment in the sun.

While the world's most famous cities grapple with over-tourism and diminishing authenticity, Lucca offers a refined, slower alternative. A new wave of international travellers — most notably from England and the Netherlands — is flocking to this walled sanctuary, drawn by a perfect cocktail of high culture, ancient history, and a lifestyle that feels both exclusive and authentically Italian.

01 The Crown Jewel: Lucca's Renaissance Walls

The defining feature of Lucca is, without a doubt, its massive ring of 16th-century Renaissance walls. Unlike most European cities that tore down their defences to modernise, Lucca kept hers perfectly — and completely — intact.

Today, these 4.2 kilometres of stone and brick have been transformed into something remarkable: a sophisticated, tree-lined elevated park that serves as the city's most beloved public space. It is, in every sense, the ultimate catwalk for the modern traveller.

Whether you're cycling on a vintage Italian frame, enjoying a golden-hour passeggiata, or simply sitting in quiet contemplation, the walls offer a dual vantage point unlike any other in Europe: the rolling Tuscan hills stretching to the horizon on one side, and the warm red-tiled rooftops of the historic centre below on the other.

02 A City Shaped by Time

Stepping through one of Lucca's grand medieval gates is to enter a living museum — one where Roman, medieval, and Renaissance history coexist within walking distance of each other. The city's history is layered like fine Italian silk: each era visible, each contributing something irreplaceable to the whole.

• Roman

  Piazza dell'Anfiteatro

  The iconic piazza maintains the precise elliptical shape of the Roman arena that once stood on this site. Today it is a hub of chic cafés, boutique flower shops, and aperitivo culture — ancient engineering repurposed as one of Italy's most convivial public spaces.

• Medieval

  The Guinigi Tower

  A genuinely surreal landmark: a medieval tower topped with ancient holm oak trees growing from its summit — a literal hanging garden above the rooftops. The Guinigi Tower has become one of Tuscany's most photographed subjects and symbolises the city's enduring bond with nature.

• Renaissance

  Giacomo Puccini's Birthplace

  As the birthplace of the opera composer Giacomo Puccini, Lucca breathes music in a way few cities can claim. The sounds of opera drift through the cobblestone streets — particularly during the annual Puccini Festival — adding a cinematic dimension to every corner of the historic centre.

03 The International "Slow Travel" Boom

Why are English and Dutch travellers leading the charge to Lucca in 2026? The answer lies in what travel analysts are calling the "Souljourn" trend — a movement away from checklist tourism toward deeper, more intentional stays in secondary cities.

Travellers are increasingly seeking destinations that offer the same cultural density as Florence or Rome, but with a more intimate, liveable rhythm. Lucca fits this brief precisely: it has the history, the gastronomy, the art, and the architecture — but without the queues, the crowds, or the sense of being processed through a tourist conveyor belt.

With its boutique hotels housed in Renaissance palazzos, artisanal silk workshops continuing centuries-old traditions, and a high-end dining scene rooted in the hyperlocal produce of the Garfagnana and Versilia, Lucca has become the go-to destination for the international traveller who wants to experience Tuscany at its most genuine — exclusive, unhurried, and deeply, quietly elegant.