Ask a native of Lucca to compare Florence to his beloved hometown, and he is likely to mutter dismissively about canine excrement. The fiercely proud Lucchesi have every reason to be protective of their little fortified Brigadoon, as it is everything Florence is not: musical, uncrowded, green, and slow-paced. You can throw away your map here and just get lost—the walls will keep you safe as you wander amid labyrinthine alleys, distinctive piazze, and bicycling Lucchesi balancing cappuccinos. The amazingly intact 16th-century walls that hug the city not only provide a gorgeous 4km stroll, but also keep out most cars, generic trattorias, and two-days-per-country Round-the-Worlders. As the birthplace of Puccini, Lucca is also an extremely musical city, with at least one concert every day of the year—your first stop might be at one of the ubiquitous poster kiosks to find out which university choir is touring through town that day.
The train station is in Piazzale Ricasoli, just south of the city walls. ( h Ticket office open daily 6:30am-8:10pm. Station open M-F 4:30am-12:30am, Sa-Su 5:30am-12:30am.) To Florence ...more
Your first step is to put down this book. But wait! Finish reading this section before you toss us to the wayside. Lucca is not a place for checklist tourism. Whether you are here for an afternoon or a ...more
There's just one hostel in town, but it's big enough to accommodate everyone. You can also get a room at a great B and B for what you would've spent on a hostel in Florence. La Gemma di Elena, V. Della ...more
Many of Lucca's loveliest dining spots are tucked into alleyways and hidden courtyards, but at night they are easy to find. Just follow the candles or paper lanterns lining the sidewalk: they likely lead ...more
This is not a city for tick-box tourism: the main sight is the town itself. Just go have a wander. We're here if you want to read about the things you see. The Walls, All around the city Some cities have ...more
Smatterings of nice bars and enoteche dot the old city, but areas of particular concentration include the intersection of V. Vittorio Veneto and C. Garibaldi, Piazza San Michele, and Piazza San Frediano ...more
Lucca is an extremely musical town. The Puccini Festival ensures at least one performance every single day of the year, and summertime sees an explosion of concerts and musical events. Additionally, it's ...more
 |
 |
 |
 |
For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
Facebook
Twitter
You Tube
Foursquare
Newsletter
RSS Feed
Overview