Lucca

[Harvardo]

A friend went last week and said it was the most beautiful place in the world. Has anyone else been?

[tuscanhills]

I've been to Lucca, but it's in Tuscany (unless there's another one?!?!?!)

....but yes, it's a stunning place but I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. It's a delightfully relaxed town that's a wonderful sanctuary from Florence et al.

As a town it's got wonderfully preserved walls that still circle the whole town; they are wonderful to take a bike ride along.

If you do a search of this site (sort of, top right in the green bar) you'll find many postings on Lucca from bike rides, music festicals to recommendations on getting there!

Are you planning a trip?

[Relaxed]

Well, tuscs - I think I am going to have to hand over the mantle of "non geographer" to Harvardo! (For Harvardo, I am famous - or perhaps I should say notorious on this forum - for getting towns and cities in quite the wrong regions - or even on the wrong motorways!)

But yes, Lucca is wonderful (three times, according to tusc!), and a good base for making day visits to the more crowded Pisa, even Florence, and the Tuscan/Ligurian coast. One perhaps less known highlight of Lucca is a fabulous "ferramenta" (ironmonger) on the main street: if you are dying for a lawn sprinkler which looks like a bronze tortoise, or an exquisite garden tap in the form of a dolphin (for not a lot of money) - head there when you have finished seeing the sights!

[Anastasia]

But.. dont ask Lax for directions! :D :D

[Tanny]

Before we moved to Italy permanently we always used to stay at least a couple of nights in Lucca. It's a delightful walled town. We stayed in La Luna, a little hotel off the main shopping street. There are a couple of excellent restaurants and plenty to see, though just soaking up the atmosphere was often enough for us! On one occasion we saw the strangest sight - it was raining and an oldish chap cycled by with a dog in the basket on the front, shopping on the handlebars, a fag in his mouth and holding an umbrella! I wish I had had my camera with me! Market day is fun too. There are some lovely shops. My husband used to buy all his shoes and shirts for the year. Now we are living here and have two cats and two dogs it is difficult to go away at all, but Lucca would be my first choice for a two or three day break.

[Dawn]

We are off to Lucca next week for 3 days and the a week in Viareggio, i am really looking forward to it have been to Lucca before for daytrips but have never been to Viareggio that, will be a new experience for us.

Dawn.