What to do in Lucca in a week-end

Lucca is not the most touristic city of Tuscany: everyone goes to Florence at least once in life, or under the Pisa Tower. And people usually don’t know so much about Lucca. I think it's a quiet, orderly and liveable town...

... perfect for a weekend during the spring away from the tourist hordes. But what can you do in Lucca in a week-end?

1. Get on the Guinigi Tower, the most important in the city: on the top there are oaks, such a particular thing;
2. Have lunch or dinner in Piazza Anfiteatro, with all the colorful houses overlooking this bright and elliptical square;
3. Visit the Duomo (also called the Church of St. Martin) and the Church of San Michele in Foro, which dominates the square;
4. Wander around by foot through the narrow and quiet streets, passing a boutique and then a workshop, guided by the scent of delicatessens selling sandwiches with roast pork and local cheeses;
5. Try a piece of focaccia bread at Giusti’s bakery, which is said to be the best in town, or pizza at Pizzeria da Felice;

6. If you are here in October-November you can partecipate to the Lucca Comics & Games Festival, famous all over Italy as it is an unique event awaited by thousands fans;
7. Leave the city, go along the road to the village of Borgo a Mozzano. Here you’ll find an ancient Roman bridge, “Ponte della Maddalena”, also called the “Devil's Bridge”: taking amazing picture here is a must;
8. For an afternoon on the seaside you could go to Viareggio, in the heart of Versilia: excellent fish, a clean sea and also the nightlife typical of the summer. It will be fun!
9. Finally, returning to Lucca, come up the walls and just walk around the city: it is a different point of view and a great way to end the exploration of this charming town.
 

Lucca and its surroundings are the ideal place to spend a few days between history and art, not far from the Tuscan countryside and also near to the Versilia sea, don’t you think?

If you are looking for a place to stay at the weekend, CharmingTuscany.com suggests you this selection of hotel in Lucca!
 

PhotoCredits: Silvia Cartotto