{"id":4330,"date":"2026-08-03T06:16:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T06:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/?p=4330"},"modified":"2026-08-26T12:34:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T12:34:49","slug":"porta-santa-maria-lucca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/porta-santa-maria-lucca\/","title":{"rendered":"Porta Santa Maria: The Northern Gates of Lucca"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Porta Santa Maria<\/strong> is the grand northern gate and is the one most people pass under when they arrive from the train station side of town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article walks you through the history of <strong>Porta Santa Maria Lucca<\/strong>, the architecture and details worth spotting, what sits nearby, and how to reach the historic centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Porta Santa Maria?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Porta Santa Maria<\/strong> is the northern gate in Lucca&#8217;s famous Renaissance walls, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is one of only three original 16th-century gates, alongside <strong>Porta San Pietro<\/strong> to the south and <strong>Porta San Donato<\/strong> to the west. The gate stands between the <strong>San Martino bastion<\/strong> and the <strong>San Frediano platform<\/strong>, and it has long been one of the main and most convenient entrances into the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong> Northern side of Lucca&#8217;s walls, near the Foro Boario car park<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Built:<\/strong> Between 1549 and 1592<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Designer:<\/strong> Ginese Bresciani, with works directed by Michelangelo Gabrielli<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Openings:<\/strong> Three (one central pedestrian arch, two for traffic)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost to walk the walls:<\/strong> Free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Walls total length:<\/strong> Just over 4 km<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-1024x681.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-1024x681.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-300x199.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-768x510.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria.webp 1360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The history of Porta Santa Maria in Lucca<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Republic of Lucca decreed the new fortifications in 1504, worried about the expanding <strong>Medici family<\/strong> in nearby Florence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Porta Santa Maria<\/strong> itself went up between 1549 and 1592. <em>Brescian<\/em>i drew the plans, and <em>Michelangelo Gabrielli <\/em>oversaw the building work. The marble statue of the <strong>Madonna and Child<\/strong> at its centre was carved by <em>Giuseppe da Genova<\/em> in 1595. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gate originally had just a single fortified arch. However, the two side openings were added later to ease the flow of traffic, and as a result, it now has three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the early 19th century, the walls had lost their defensive purpose, and <strong>Duchess Maria Luisa of Bourbon<\/strong> handed them to her court architect <em>Lorenzo Nottolini<\/em>. He turned the ramparts into the tree-lined public promenade you walk today. There was even a tram line running through the gate between the 1880s and 1932.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The architecture and details of the gate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Porta Santa Maria<\/strong> is built from red brick in a simple style. Four giant-order pilasters frame the fa\u00e7ade, and three niches sit above the three portals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Details worth noting include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Madonna and Child:<\/strong> The central marble statue, carved by Giuseppe da Genova in 1595, gives the gate its name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The panthers:<\/strong> Two limestone panthers flank the gate, each holding the coats of arms of the Commune and the Republic of Lucca. They replaced an earlier pair of lions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Annunciation frescoes:<\/strong> Under the central arch, two frescoes show the Annunciation, with the Archangel Gabriel on one side and the Madonna on the other.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The &#8220;Libertas&#8221; relief:<\/strong> On the inner fa\u00e7ade, a marble bas-relief of St Peter sits above the city&#8217;s ancient motto, &#8220;Libertas&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-lucca-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-lucca-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-lucca-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-lucca-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Porta-Santa-Maria-lucca.webp 1360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to see near Porta Santa Maria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you arrive through <strong>Porta Santa Maria Lucca<\/strong> drops you near some of the city&#8217;s best sights within Lucca, all within an easy walking distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Piazza dell&#8217;Anfiteatro:<\/strong> The oval square built on the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre, ringed with caf\u00e9s, is a few minutes south of the gate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Basilica di San Frediano:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/basilica-di-san-frediano\/\">6th-century basilica with its golden mosaic fa\u00e7ade and the body of Santa Zita<\/a> sits very close by.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Via Fillungo:<\/strong> Lucca&#8217;s main shopping street threads down from this part of town towards the centre.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The walls themselves:<\/strong> Step straight up onto the ramparts and walk in either direction under the plane trees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In our opinion, this part of Lucca also makes a good base for exploring further into the city. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/villa-reale-di-marlia-lucca\/\">grand gardens and hedge theatre of Villa Reale di Marlia<\/a> are about 8 km out, and the elegant square of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/piazza-napoleone\/\">Piazza Napoleone with its Palazzo Ducale and opera house<\/a> is a short walk across the centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get there and access the historic centre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reaching <strong>Porta Santa Maria<\/strong> is easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>On foot from the centre:<\/strong> From Piazza dell&#8217;Anfiteatro, head north for a few minutes and you reach the gate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>From the train station:<\/strong> Lucca&#8217;s station sits just outside the southern walls. Cross the centre on foot, roughly 15 to 20 minutes, or loop around the outside.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>By car:<\/strong> There is paid parking near the gate on the blue-line bays and at the nearby Foro Boario area. The historic centre is largely closed to traffic, so park outside and walk in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accessing the ramparts:<\/strong> Ramps and steps lead up to the wall walk close to the gate. The path along the top is flat, wide, and easy for pushchairs and bikes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tip<\/strong>: The wall walk from here gives some of the best views in the city, taking in the Pisan mountains to the south, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/apuan-alps\/\"> Apuan Alps<\/a> to the west, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/garfagnana-tuscany\/\">Garfagnana<\/a> hills to the north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d7095.248148590514!2d10.506180812029962!3d43.84736913528723!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x12d583f2b31723f5%3A0x4fcd7f32345c096f!2sPorta%20Santa%20Maria!5e0!3m2!1ses!2ses!4v1783594086707!5m2!1ses!2ses\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for your visit to Lucca<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Must-do checklist:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look up at the Madonna and Child and the two panthers holding the city&#8217;s arms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Step under the central arch to find the Annunciation frescoes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spot the &#8220;Libertas&#8221; relief on the inner face of the gate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Climb onto the ramparts and walk a full section under the trees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Carry on to the Basilica di San Frediano and Piazza dell&#8217;Anfiteatro nearby<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few extra pointers for visiting Lucca city centre<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Come early in the morning or near dusk for quieter streets and softer light. Bring comfortable shoes, since the centre is all cobbles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you plan to cycle the walls, rental shops near the gates hire bikes by the hour. Additionally, if you&#8217;re around in summer, the warm Tuscan months, with their long evenings and local festivals, make it a fine time to wander the ramparts after sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Book your visit to Lucca today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Porta Santa Maria<\/strong> is a 16th-century gateway watched over by a marble Madonna and two stone panthers, the threshold to a city that has guarded its centre for centuries and never once had to fight for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best way to enjoy <strong>Porta Santa Maria Lucca<\/strong> is to stay close enough to step out at first light or after dark, when the crowds thin and the walls feel like your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/\">Lucca Apartments and Villas<\/a>, we offer carefully chosen apartments and villas inside and around the historic centre. Book your perfect base for exploring the gate, the walls, and everything beyond!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Porta Santa Maria is the grand northern gate and is the one most people pass under when they arrive from the train station side of town. This article walks you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lucca-tuscany"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Porta Santa Maria: The Northern Gates of Lucca - Discover Tuscany | Our Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the historic Porta Santa Maria in Lucca. Admire its unique architecture and experience the essence of the city.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk\/blog\/porta-santa-maria-lucca\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Porta Santa Maria: The Northern Gates of Lucca - Discover Tuscany | Our Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover the historic Porta Santa Maria in Lucca. 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