'''Lucca''' is a city of some 90,000 people in Tuscany. Its long history goes back to Etruscan and Ancient Roman times, and the city retains pieces of Ancient architecture. Lucca's great era was in the Gothic era just before the Renaissance, and the city contains much marvelous architecture from that era. Lucca remained an independent city state until the end of the 18th century. Giacomo Puccini, one of italian worldwide known opera composers, was born in Lucca.
The area of most interest to visitors is still enclosed within the old city defensive wall. The top of these broad walls is a ring park, a pleasant place for walking.
Get in
Rail and road links provide easy access from nearby Pisa and Florence.
By plane
Pisa International Airport has a rail station attached, and is only a 20 minute train ride from Lucca.
Flights from most large cities are available daily, and from Hub airports (such as Stansted) as many as three times a day. Two terminals exist, with the latest being added late 2008.
Car hire is available from all the major providers. You can find the airports site here http://www.pisa-airport.com/.
By train
The railroad station is just a few blocks from the old town walls. Luggage lockers are said to be available, but it is not clear where they are. There are no direct trains from Pisa airport to Lucca, so a transfer is required.
By bus
There is a bus that travels directly from Pisa Airport to Piazzale Verdi in Lucca.
You get the bus just outside the arrivals hall of the airport (buy your tickets beforehand at the ticket kiosk within the arrivals hall). The fare is cheap at about 4?.
The bus ride is a scenic, pleasant thirty-minute ride to Piazzale Verdi, which is inside the walls.
By car
Driving inside the walls is mostly reserved to residents, so park your car (there are car parks outside the walls and a couple inside, accessible by non-residents) and rent a bike. Several bicycle rental locations can be found near the North entrance to the city, Porta Santa Maria, near Porta San Pietro and walking from Porta Elisa towards the center. It is not a large city within the walls, so you may find it more enjoyable to simply walk around.
The city has many car parks located outside the wall, the largest two are on the North and South side. The A11 (E76) Runs from the coastal A12(E80) Autostrada across towards Firenze.
Get around
Barga
Garfagnana
See
Roman amphitheater - To be found off the Via Fillungo, main entrance by Piazza Scarpellini.
Old city walls
Ilaria del Carretto's Sarcophagus - By Jacopo della Quercia
Torre Guinigi -- this is a tower with trees atop it, a very dramatic sight, with good views of the city. No lift, many stairs.
Torre delle Ore -- ancient clock tower with original clock still working; is it possible to go upstairs on this tower too (beautiful view on the city, good perspective of Fillungo street).
Saint Michael's Church
Saint Frediano's Church
Via Fillungo
Duomo di San Martino. iazza di San Martino. . Romanesque cathedral dating to 14th century. Includes a sculpture of the crucifixion attributed to an eyewitness, Nicodemus. Some interesting carvings in the marble exterior, including a labyrinth.
Palazzo Pfanner. ia degli Asili. 40 923 30 85. ?. Preserved rooms formerly inhabited by the Pfanner family, as well as a pleasant garden. Also on display, some 19th century medical equipment.
Do
Lucca has many old churches, some of which now house art galleries. See art museum. This was the hometown of Puccini, and operas are held regularly. Be sure to come by during the summer months, as the area is regularly dotted with Puccini festivals, hosting a variety of young opera singers from across Europe and North America.
City Walls. One can walk or cycle on top of the ancient city walls. The entire perimeter is approximately 4 km. This gives a good introduction to the city layout. Expect crowds in the summer months.
Compared to Florence or Siena, there is relatively little late night activity on the streets of old Lucca. The San Colombano, on top of the walls, overlooking the train station, the Betty Blue (near piazza Santa Maria), the Rewine near San Michele and the Cupido and McCulloughs, outside the walls near the station are some of the bars open late, especially in the summer.
Most locals tend to make the short trip to Viareggio on the coast, which offers a far better selection of clubs, such as 7 Apples and La Canniccia
Learn
For those wishing to learn Italian in an immersive setting, Koine Centro offers 2-week sessions for beginners and advanced alike. See: http://www.koinecenter.com/ for more information.
Buy
Enoteca Vanni. iazza del Salvatore 7. 39 0583 491902. nfo@enotecacavanni.com. ww.enotecavanni.com. losed sundays?. A decent wine and liquor store. One could spend some time poking around the four cellar rooms.
Eat
Only in Lucca you can find a special Sweet-bread in shape of a small baguette or a bun.
It's called "Buccellato" and it has raisins inside and has a unique taste of anise.
You can find it in a small shop called Taddeucci, behind Saint Michael's church in the
main square of Lucca
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Budget
Trattoria da Leo. ia Tegrimi 1. 583 492236. Fairly typical Tuscan cuisine with some Luccan touches (e.g. pine nuts). The menu is only in Italian (a good sign). Vegetarian friendly. Reservations are a good idea or arrive around 7:00. An excellent meal for the price.
Pizzeria La Bersagliera. ia Pisana 2136. 583510758. If you happen to have a car, do check out this pizzeria, just ten minutes drive outside of town, it's worth. The owners come from Calabria, so you are likely to find all kinds of spicy salami, olives, mushrooms on top of your pizza. A different meal, served by distracted waitresses. Beware: You can't have your espresso coffee there. Being asked for coffees, the old owner ? I don't think she's still around ? used to reply: "Yeah, go get that at La Cubana", which is a bar downtown. Oh, and you can't make reservations: Be there by 7pm.
Forno a vapore Amedeo Giusti. ia Santa Lucia 18/20. 583 496285. Strolling along the Torre Guinigi (the one with trees on top), you'll probably sniff some irresistible oily and flory smell. It's called focaccia, the Lucchese idea of a snack.
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
It is safe to drink the water that comes out of the public fountains. Many locals fill gallon jugs and it is their primary source of drinking water.
It is delicious and quite refreshing. In fact, it taste better than most bottled water.
The digestive tonic China Massagli (http://www.massagli.com/ithome.html) is produced at the Farmacia Massagli in Lucca. This is an eminent example of the "china" style of amaro (Italian potable bitters). If you ask for an "amaro locale" at a restaurant, this is likely what you will receive.
"Biadina" is another local style of bitters, bottled by Massagli and other producers; this drink is often sold with a small pack of pine nuts.
Sleep
Accommodations are plentiful, and cheaper than in Florence or Siena.
The best stay is at San Giuliano Terme (health giving waters are still offered to an international clientele) on the road which runs along the foot of the hills from Pisa to Lucca.
Budget
Hostel Franco is very nice and relatively cheap (15 euro per night) when I stayed there in 2003.
Mid-range
Casa Alba. ia Fillungo 142"
phone="0583 495361" email="" fax=""
url="http://www.casa-alba.com"
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Only 5 rooms, and on the second floor with no lift, this place is charming nonetheless. Owner speaks English, clerk does not. Located in historical center of town. 60-85 euro/night, October 2007.</sleep>
Hotel Versilia Palace"
address="Viale Roma 27, 55045, Marina di Pietra Santa"
phone="''+39'' 0584 745848"
fax="''+39'' 0584 23382"
email="info@hotelversiliapalace.com"
checkin="" checkout=""
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url="http://www.hotelversiliapalace.com">
4 star hotel located on the Tuscan Seaside between Forte dei Marmi resort and the Marina di Pietrasanta. The hotel has 50 guestrooms and 2 outdoor swimming pools.
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Splurge
'''La Cappella''' - 7 km from Lucca, Villa La Cappella was constructed on the walls of a former monastery, dating back to the 17th century. Private swimming pool, garden furniture, parking by the house.
Albergo Pietrasanta, Via Garibaldi, 35 - 55045 Pietrasanta, Lucca - info@albergopietrasanta.com - 28 km from Lucca. Situated in a seventeenth century palace known as Palazzo Barsanti Bonetti, in the historical center of Pietrasanta, this 19 room luxury hotel boasts elegant rooms, a lovely interior garden veranda and a world class art collection.
'''Grand hotel Guinigi''', [http://www.grandhotelguinigi.it/]The Grand Hotel Guinigi is located at about one mile from the historical center of Lucca.
San Martino Cathedral, Chiesa di San Frediano, Anfiteatro, the House of Giacomo Puccini and the ancient City Walls are one and a half kilometres from the hotel.
Contact
Get out
Versilia