Official Information
Official website: https://www.comune.lucca.it/vivere-il-comune/luoghi/torre-guinigi/
Online tickets: https://cultura.comune.lucca.it/detail/5fa097aeb8b35668c39b5b1a
Address: Via Sant’Andrea 45 (corner with Via delle Chiavi d’Oro), 55100 Lucca (LU), Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
The Guinigi Tower is a municipal monument with seasonal hours; typically, it is open daily during main tourist seasons with extended daytime hours, and has shorter schedules or occasional closures in winter or during bad weather. Access is managed in timed slots via the Lucca culture ticketing portal; for the latest schedules and any restrictions, consult the official websites of the Comune di Lucca and cultura.comune.lucca.it.
The Guinigi Tower is one of Lucca’s most recognisable landmarks: a tall brick tower dating to the city’s medieval golden age, crowned unexpectedly by a cluster of holm oak trees. Built in the 14th century by the wealthy Guinigi family, it once formed part of a network of private towers that showcased the status and security of Lucca’s merchant elite. Today it is one of the few such towers still standing, and the only one with a rooftop garden visitors can access. Entering from a side street in the compact historic centre, visitors climb more than 200 steps up the narrow internal staircases. The ascent is steady but less restrictive than many Italian towers, with landings offering chances to rest and see the brickwork up close. Reaching the top, the surprise is the elevated garden itself: the evergreen oaks create welcome shade and frame panoramic views, while a low parapet allows you to walk the entire circuit around the rooftop. From here you can see Lucca’s perfectly preserved Renaissance walls, the pattern of red-tiled roofs and church towers, and the surrounding ring of Tuscan hills. The platform is a superb spot for orientation and photography, especially in late afternoon light. Interpretive panels often explain the history of the tower, the Guinigi family and Lucca’s tradition of tower-houses, linking what you see to the city’s independence and merchant wealth. Tickets are handled through the city’s official booking platform, which also manages access to other monuments such as the Torre delle Ore, and sometimes the botanical garden, making combined visits convenient. Because space on the roof is limited and weather can affect safety, admission is usually in timed quotas; booking ahead in peak seasons is recommended. The tower is entirely above street level, so visitors must be comfortable with stairs and heights, but the reward is one of Tuscany’s most atmospheric viewpoints. For travellers who enjoy climbing towers, urban photography or simply taking in a city from above, the Guinigi Tower is a must-visit in Lucca and easily combined with a walk on the city walls and a loop through the medieval core.