Lucca Cathedral (Duomo di Lucca)

The main church in Lucca is its cathedral, the Duomo di Lucca, built in the 11th century. The structure stands at one side of the Piazza San Martino, and inside, visitors will find the most revered relic in town: the Holy Face of Lucca (Volto Santo). This wooden cross is said to have been carved by Nicodemus, and although the one on display is a 13th-century copy, it's no less important to the church or town. There are two times each year when the Volto Santo is celebrated, dressed in special vestments in the cathedral. The church was rebuilt in the 14th century, although the campanile (bell tower) from the original structure remains, which is why one arch is quite a bit smaller than the other. Other points of interest inside the Duomo are paintings by Ghirlandaio and Tintoretto, as well as the 15th-century tomb of Ilaria del Carretto of the Guinigi family. There is a museum in the cathedral as well.

Practical Info

The Lucca Cathedral is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March 15 to November 2 (with extended hours until 6:45 p.m. on Saturdays and shortened hours from 9 to 10 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays). It is also open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 3 to March 14. Admission is €3 for the cathedral only, €4 for the museum only, and €7 for a combined ticket including the cathedral, museum, campanile, and archaeological area.