AS Lu, Biblioteca Manoscritti, n.107, c. 69, detail

The Medieval Walls

Ever since its foundation Lucca has always been defended by Walls. Those built in Medieval times are documented in the Croniche (Chronicles) of Giovanni Sercambi, who depicted them in his book with many “cartoons” telling the story of Lucca from 1100 to 1400.

Those were the Walls of a city that had to defend itself from bows, arrows and crossbows. For these reasons, the Medieval Walls were high, narrow, crenellated and strengthened by turrets and more imposing towers, placed to defend the gates that were accessible by means of a drawbridge.

After the Walls ended their function, in 1532 the Lucca Government decided to sell them by public auction to private citizens, who used them as dwellings.

Significant evidence of the Medieval Walls is still preserved today. They can still be seen in San Gervasio gate, in Borghi gate, in a section of the Walls and in a stone turret that are grafted into the Renaissance Walls to the north of the city.