Sign in with FacebookCastelnuovo di Garfagnana, Lucca, Italy
Inside Santa Maria Forisportam
The interior of the Cathedral
?14th century Fresco
San Michele in Foro
Are there frequent buses operating betwen Lucca and Florence daily?
Thanks!
Yes, but Lazzi haven't uploaded their timetable yet (at least, I can't find it on the site):
http://www.lazzi.it/itanew/activenews.asp
Maybe they will upload before you go! If not, the tourist info people will no doubt have the relevant details.
You could easily go by train too.
Thanks! I'll have a look at that web site.
Don't get too excited........I don't think it'll be much help! :-)
No; I only like to know if Lucca would be a good base to visit Florence. I think Lucca is less touristy than Florence.
Ciao!
Look at the trains, too. Train connections are frequent.
Yes, Lucca is less touristy but very interesting for a day trip. Train: www.trenitalia.it
As a good [and cheap] base to visit Florence, Lucca is not cheap&good at all. I mean.. what you spend of money and time for transfer.. it's better staying in Florence. Prato, Campi, Empoli, Sesto or (I suggest) Fiesole... could be a like a base as there are closer to Florence then Lucca (from Fiesole are 12 minutes by train to S.M.Novella station) and there are also local buses.
Many regional trains allow to take the bike with you. :-)
midway between the two is the spa town of Montecatini Terme with lots and lots of hotels in all price ranges, also directly on the autostrada.
Lucca is quite a ways from Florence. I spent a week in Lucca and a week in Florence last summer and much preferred Lucca over Florence. Florence is, however, the better location for side trips into various parts of Tuscany. Florence was overrun with people and Lucca was not. Lucca is far more relaxing and you can rent bikes and ride them around the town walls. The train will be much faster than the bus.
Are there bike tours for a day that could be arranged in Lucca?
If you can stay after the sun goes down, then you'll be treated to a lovely transformation. Lucca is illuminated quite nicely at night, and It takes on a whole new ambience. The city becomes very romantic at night, and the charming intimate cafes only add in creating a very cozy atmosphere. The shops and restaurants are really lovely, and it's fun just to window shop or linger over tantalizing menus.
Viareggio is a nice and fancy coastal resort. It is often called the Biarritz of Florence as most inhabitants of Tuscany's capital choose Viareggio as their summer holiday's destination.
Viareggio is situated about 25km from Lucca, and it has a different ambiance from that lovely city, making it a pleasant village to visit and to spend some nice time by the sea. It has sandy beaches and a long walk bordering the beaches with open door cafes and restaurants. On the other side of the street, some impressive villas may be seen.
Very inviting façade, a place reminiscent of Montmartre or of a small country restaurant in France. The interior is small and the furniture is dark wood, so the French feeling lingers on. I appreciated the quiet and not feeling rushed, the pleasure of eating while lost in thought.
Rousseau specialises in traditional Tuscan and especially Luccan (?) cuisine. They have fantastic tortelli lucchesi (pasta filled with greens and ricotta, and lightly sauteed in butter and sage);
caciucco di bietole e ceci (fish soup with Swiss chard -- which I LOVE! -- and chick peas;
couscous, another favourite of mine. Here it's "vegetariano", good, though I would miss the essence of perfume which lamb shoulder gives the broth;
they also have various pizze, and a good house red.
But mostly, they have excellent "tagliata" which is a good piece of meat (usually beef) cooked on the grill or over coals, just enough to remain pink inside and very juicy. The meat is cut into slices only after being left to "relax" a few moments after cooking. It's delicious simply served over a plate of rugola greens and cherry tomatoes, and an infusion of best olive oil lightly warmed with garlic, rosemary and green pepper. My favourite dishes here were: the primi, Tortelli lucchesi, very delicately perfumed with fresh sage.
And also the secondi, a Tagliata of beef, perfectly done and beautifully served.
For wine, I think I had a Rosso di Montecarlo (Sangiovese), a hilltown between Lucca and the Valdinievole in Northern Tuscany. But I forgot to write things down that day, I was trying to budget and lost track of time.
For dessert, I had a Bavaroise. That's another favourite so I guess I can say this place was right for me!
This cathedral has a history dating back to the 6th century, when St Frediano conceived of the first modest church here. Subsequent enlargements in the 12th and 13th centuries produced a larger Romanesque cathedral. In the 14th and 15th, the present Gothic features were added. So, like so many Italian churches, St Martin's has a melange of styles.
This church's artwork and architecture comprise a visual history of Lucca. Take some time to examine it in detail. It's the most impressive building in this Tuscan town.
The Duomo di San Martino is the biggest cathedral in Lucca. It was completely rebuilt between the 12th and 15th century. In 1261 it was joined to the adjoining bell-tower, hence the unusual asymmetry of the façade and its smaller arch to the right.
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