Lucca is a city of towers, and the Torre delle Ore, the Tower of the Hours, is the tallest of them at around fifty metres. It rises over Via Fillungo, the winding shopping street that is the spine of the old town, and almost every visitor passes beneath it without noticing how much history is packed inside. The tower was once owned by the Quartigiani family, and rival families fought over it for years until the Republic of Lucca bought it in 1490 to give the city a public clock. A first clock had been installed as early as 1390 and struck only the hours, and a dial was added about a century later. The mechanism you can see today was built in 1752 by the Geneva watchmaker Louis Simon, and it still strikes the hours in the old Roman style, with a large bell for the hours and two smaller bells for the quarters.
The climb
There is no lift, so the only way up is a wooden staircase of 207 steps that zigzags up through the tower’s inner levels. The steps are steady rather than steep, and the climb passes the clock workings on the way, which makes it far more interesting than a simple stair to a viewpoint. At the top you reach the bell chamber, where you can stand among the great bells and look out over a sea of terracotta roofs, the green line of the walls, the oval of the amphitheatre piazza and, on a clear day, the hills that ring the plain.
Why it is a good alternative to the Guinigi Tower: the Guinigi Tower is the one with trees growing from its top, and it is the classic photograph of Lucca. The Torre delle Ore offers a different experience, with a real working clock, bells and a simple wooden staircase, and it is taller.
Many visitors climb both, and since they are only a few minutes apart, you can do them in the same morning. If you prefer to climb just one, choose the Guinigi Tower for the garden at the top and the Torre delle Ore for the mechanism and the bells.
Booking and tickets
An entrance fee applies, and the tower accepts the Lucca Visit Card, a combined ticket for the city’s main attractions. Reservations are recommended on weekdays and are required on weekends and public holidays, when numbers are limited, so book ahead if your visit falls on those days. Opening hours are shorter in winter and longer in spring and summer, so check the current hours before you go.
Good to know
The chimes ring through the day from morning until evening, so expect noise if you are inside the bell chamber when the hour strikes. The stairs are narrow, so the tower is not suitable for people with mobility problems, and it is best to leave large bags at your hotel. Finish your visit with a coffee on Via Fillungo, or walk the short distance to Piazza dell’Anfiteatro for lunch.
Planning tip
For a full tower day in Lucca, climb the Torre delle Ore first thing in the morning, when it is quietest, and then cross the old town to the Guinigi Tower before lunch. Between them lies Via Fillungo, with plenty of cafes and small shops for a break. Bring a light layer, since the bell chamber can be breezy, and keep a hand free for the wooden handrail on the way down.
What to expect
The experience
A climb up 207 wooden steps inside the tower, past the clock workings to the bell chamber and a panoramic view over the old town.
Best time
Early in the day on a clear morning, with a reservation if you are visiting at a weekend or on a public holiday.
How long
About forty-five minutes to an hour, including the climb and time at the top.
Tips
Book ahead at weekends, leave large bags at your hotel, and plan your climb to avoid being in the bell chamber on the hour.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who likes mechanisms and history as much as a view, and visitors who want a second high viewpoint after the Guinigi Tower.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the wooden stairs, the clock workings and the bells, but the narrow climb is not suitable for pushchairs or very small children.
- Couples
- A shared climb and a rooftop view over Lucca makes a memorable half hour on a clear day.
- Pair with
- The Guinigi Tower, a short walk away, and lunch around Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.
- Time needed
- About an hour including the climb.
Good questions
How many steps are there in the Torre delle Ore?+
There are 207 wooden steps and no lift, so the climb is steady but suitable only for people comfortable with a long staircase.
Do I need to book the Torre delle Ore?+
Reservations are recommended on weekdays and are required on weekends and public holidays, so book ahead if you plan to visit at those times.
Is the clock in the Torre delle Ore still working?+
Yes. The mechanism built by the Geneva watchmaker Louis Simon in 1752 still strikes the hours, with a large bell for the hours and smaller bells for the quarters.
Which is better, the Torre delle Ore or the Guinigi Tower?+
They offer different experiences. The Guinigi Tower has the famous rooftop trees, while the Torre delle Ore is taller and lets you see the clock mechanism and bells. Many visitors climb both.
Can I use the Lucca Visit Card at the Torre delle Ore?+
Yes, the tower accepts the Lucca Visit Card, the combined ticket for the city’s main attractions.
