We visited the tower as part of a 3 ticket deal which included the Guingi Tower and Botanical Gardens. Don't forget to chose the time you visit.
This was our favourite tower, it was certainly not as busy as the Guingi, it is higher and you have the bonus of the bells at the top.
As with our review of the Guingi, no history just our observations/advice.
First thing first, its worth the visit, we loved it up their, shaded on top, great views, less visitors (we had it to ourselves for half of the time we were there) and the bells (more about the bells later).
Finding it - I know this sounds odd, because it is one of the tallest buildings in Lucca, but you do have to look for it. At street level the entrance is very discreet. So pay attention, its straight forward - we used the Google Map App on our phone, but it is a low key entrance.
Effort - It's a tower, it is one of the tallest structures in Lucca, so you do need a certain level of mobility and fitness but as we have said about Guingi - don't be put off. Take your time and visit it.
Head for heights - as before, unless you're a genuine vertigo sufferer you'll be fine.
Guingi vs dell Ore - which one if you can only do one? We would do the dell Ore, for us we found it the nicer tower, less visited, great view etc
Those bells - time to point out the obvious - this is a clock tower, that means that one of the bells chimes the hours on the hour. You are standing directly under the bell, so you will get to experience it. It is NOT too loud and if you monitor the time on your watch/phone you can plan it and capture it on your phone/camera/video/GoPro. We enjoyed that, it makes for a very atmospheric video, starting with the bell being struck and panning out across the city - your chance to be Frederico Fellini. Don't forget, on the three site ticket you're asked to chose the time of your visit here, so you can plan this.