Tuscany, Lucca, Town of Lucca
A charming Tuscan town enclosed by massive red brick walls, Lucca is one of Tuscany's best-kept secrets. Imagine a beautiful little Tuscan town protected by massively thick 16th-century walls, featuring some of Italy's finest medieval and Renaissance architecture, superb dining, antique markets, classical and rock music festivals, easy access to stunning nearby villages in the surrounding hills and with endless beaches less than half an hour away.
DescriptionAt only 60 Km from Florence, Lucca boasts an enormous historical, natural and artistic heritage. A wealthy and colourful town that draws a more discerning tourist than Florence or Pisa, it is sufficiently off the beaten track to have kept its civility and reserve. Lucca is a city to stroll through, from the perimeter walls to the Roman amphitheater, which is now bordered by smart boutiques and restaurants. Atop the16th-century red brick walls is a pleasant walk shaded by chestnut trees and are a favorite place for strolling, jogging or cycling (the town offers bicycle rentals by the day or the week). As you venture inside, you feel that Lucca has managed to cope with tourism without losing its old-fashioned charm, and its narrow, mediaeval streets are a wonderful mixture of shops, offices, restaurants, bars and houses. It is a city of merchants who know how to woo the visitor and the shopper, but the pace of life varies between slow and slower. In town you will find some wonderful examples of Roman, mediaeval and Renaissance architecture and a huge number of grand churches.There is a busy schedule of markets, festivals and exhibitions throughout the year and all of the facilities that you would expect from a small city. In the city that gave birth to musicians such as Giacomo Puccini and Luigi Boccherini, music is of great importance: folk and pop in the squares, classical and operatic in the theatre and basilicas. The climate is usually mild, ideal for a stay in winter, not too inclement, and in summer, hot but bearable.
Why Lucca:- Lucca has excellent motorway, rail and bus connections so you can easily explore the rest of Tuscany and central Italy
- You love Tuscany, but Florence and Siena are just too crowded
To do in Lucca:- Walk (or bike) around the city on the wide shaded walkways atop the walls. If that doesn't tire you out, climb up the Torre Guinigi - the 130 ft. tower has an ancient oak tree on top!
- Shop - or just window shop - in via Filolungo
- Wander into the splendor of the Piazza San Michele in Lucca, choose any of the easy going bar-cafes around the main square, seat down for a drink, relax and watch people go by...
Further afield: Take a trip to the Versilia Coast, well known for its wide and long fine sandy beaches, backed by beautiful mountains. The province of Lucca spans from Forte dei Marmi, commonly called 'il Forte', passing through Marina di Pietrasanta, Lido di Camaiore, Viareggio until Torre del Lago, wher you can admire some notable liberty or Art Nouveau buildings. Most of the long, wide beaches are organised into private bathing establishments equipped with all the facilities holiday makers need for an entire day at the seaside. In addition to umbrellas, deck-chairs, sun-beds, cabins, showers and bars, many bathing establishments have a restaurant, an area for games and various sport facilities. The quality of the water is usually quite good.
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