Day Trip Suggestion: Lucca
For those staying at Villa Campestri Olive Oil Resort, we try and give our best travel suggestions to not only our guests, but anyone who just adores Tuscany. Our tip this week is the lovely town of Lucca, which is about an hour and forty minutes from our resort in the north-west part of the region. It’s a town that many of us love, for its long history dating back to the Etruscan times. Its walls offering pretty views and the perfect place for a long walk and naturally, it is home to delicious local food. It makes a great day trip and can babe easily reached by both train or car. Here are a few suggestions to visiting the town Henry James once said was ‘overflowing with everything.’
One of the musts for any first-timer to Lucca is to rent a bike and ride around the pedestrianized Renaissance wall,
Next we recommend visit one of the truly most unique piazzas in Italy, the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, along with the other main squares of Piazzale Verdi; Piazza Napoleone and Piazza San Michele.
Lucca is known as the city of ‘100 churches’ so you definitely have your pick Our personal recommendations are the San Michele in Foro where the forum once stood and we also recommend visiting the archeological remains under the 12th century church of Saints Giovanni and Reparata. The Duomo di San Martino is an obvious must, it was built in typical Romanesque style in the 12th century and besides marveling over its interesting architecture, it also houses the tomb of Ilaria del Carretto made by an artist from Siena, Jacopo del la Quercia in 1408.
Art lovers will enjoy the galleries of Villa Guinigi and Palazzo Mansi along with the modern art of Lu.C.C.A. Lucca Center of Contemporary Art.
Theater buffs instead will adore the Teatro del Giglio which dates back to 1675 and still hosts classical shows.
Foodies will want to try a slice of Buccellato, a typical cake from Lucca. For the main course go for a meat-filled tortelli pasta. This is a very meat-based city and you will often see wild boar on the menu along with sides ranging from roasted potatoes to fragrant and slightly sweet peperonata.
If you need tips on where to park, we highly recommend checking out this helpful article by Discover Tuscany. Most of all, enjoy!
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