Lucca Shopping

Mercato del Carmine is a covered market which was a church years ago. Here you can find only three or fours stalls where you can buy fruit and vegetables. When I visited this market there was a good choice of produce to buy at these stalls.

Around the market there is a cafe, a sweet shop and some shops that sells meat of various kind. These shops have an entrance inside and outside the market. The cafe has some chairs and tables inside the market.

There are the toilets into the market.

The market is open from 7.00 to 13.00 a. m. and from 4.00 to 7.30 p. m. everyday except on sundays.

What to buy: Fruit and vegetables.

When your feet have just had enough of walking and the shoes you brought with you feel like they don't fit anymore - just go to Bertolucci Ortopedia. They speak excellent English and have a good range of Birkenstocks, Birkies and other shoes. You may also just like buying shoes!

What to pay: Birkenstocks are half the price of the same product in Australia.

Inside the walled city of Lucca are many cobblestoned lanes that are filled with buildings of the various boutiques and stores that attract the tourist. It makes for an interesting day of shopping. There is one bakery that stands out from the rest in Lucca. Forno a Vapore is the bakery located on Via Santa Lucia near the cathedral San Michele in Foro.

What to buy: Buccellato is a cake flavoured with raisins and anise. It is sold fresh and soft.

It can be stored in the fridge for many days.

I bought two loaves of buccellato at Giurlani's. They were very good and cheap.

Fabulous for Leather Handbags, Wallets, Belts. Could not drag myself away from this shop.. Delightful ladies to assist you and patient in my case...Handbag Heaven!!!

What to buy: We stayed in Lucca for 3 days during October 2009 and it was just fabulous for shopping. There is a Store call 'COIN' - just great for gifts as well.. Cuoieria Fiorenta is the best for Handbags..

What to pay: My Leather Bag cost 135 Euro, Leather Wallet 35 Euro, but a there are a lot of cheaper good quality bags to choose from...you must pop into this store I guarantee you won't be disappointed!!

Small Shop - half menswear, half womenswear - maybe children's stuff too but I'm not sure.

What to buy: I bought some great summer dresses which I have since worn to bits & my husband picked up some cool linen trousers. They had a lot of pink pants for men too, as that seemed to be the street fashion when we were there last. All good quality stuff though.

What to pay: I don't think I paid more than E20 for each dress. Can't remember, but everything was more than reasonable.

PENELOPE is a beautiful shop with lots of nice tools for cooking but also to set up nice tables.
My partner and I spent quite a good time there and he was fascinated by the assortment of coffee spoons, knifes and glasses.
The owners were also very helpful and smiley. We come back to take some pictures after asking permission to the owners. They were pleased of having us in the shop and photo.

What to buy: We bought a serie of cutting knifes, a serie of coffee spoons, some glasses, a tomatoe cutter, a couple of hermetic wine bottle caps, a baking tin for cakes and a tin to do ravioli.

In the heart of Lucca you will find this huge library. It is really nice located and offers a bar inside and some sofas where you can sit and read in peace. Surprisingly, I noticed public toilets inside as well. The only negative remark is the small quantity of books in English (none in German or French or Spanish). It's really a shame for such a touristy town like Lucca.