Lucca's Cathedral is located in a secluded location of the old city center, just outside the main tourist itinerary.Of course, there’s a reason that explains this unusual location: the Cathedral was built during the sixth century, at that period the most central and important areas (from an urbanistic point of view) were already too congested. In fact it was only later that the more famous square of San Michele, in the heart of the city center, would be chosen for the construction of the church bearing the same name.That’s why the choice fell onto a square where other religious buildings already looked out onto: San Martino Square.The wide open spaces around the church include Piazza Antelminelli with a simple fountainsurrounded by marble columns; Piazza San Martino, located directly infront of the Duomo; the Museum for the Cathedral, with relevant artwork from the cathedral; and the Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata, and the origianl cathedral from the IV century and now hosting an important archeological area.