I would like to get suggestions on alternatives to Lucca for a home base for a week in 2027. The trip will be from 10/23 - 11/7. The current plan is to spend one week in Lucca and visit Pisa, Collodi, Pistoia and Florence by train or bus. We will spend the second week based in Siena and visit Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignano, Montepulciano and Volterra by car.
My wife and I (60) are experienced travelers and have been to Italy (including Florence) before. We are interested in the history, art, architecture and landscapes of Italy. The goal for the trip is to focus on smaller Tuscan towns. The issue that has come up is that the Lucca Comics and Games festival will be going on when we planned to visit. We try to plan our travels to avoid crowds where possible and neither of us are gamers. I have been looking forward to exploring Lucca because it has everything we are looking for in a home base. But my research indicates that the town really transforms in a way that could distract from its historic beauty during the festival.
I hope to find an alternative town to base in that has good train/bus connections. We will also have a couple of days (and evenings after day-trips) to explore the town, so we want enough sites, restaurants and character to keep us busy. I am currently leaning toward Pistoia as a base and just visit Lucca as a day trip. I look forward to your suggestions.
Posted by
7148 posts
I was going to suggest Pistoia, which I’ve missed on my trips to the area but have always had “on my list.”
It would be more challenging transport-wise (not impossible, just possibly more transfers than you’d like), but I loved staying in San Miniato, which has more going on than its size would suggest.
I found Lucca pretty slammed with day trippers even aside from festival time, and that was more than a decade ago, so I think you are making the right move!
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
2284 posts
You should definitely avoid Lucca around Comic-com time unless you are there for that event specifically.
I agree with Pistoia as a good alternate base for Lucca. Prato is closer to Florence than Pistoia (they are on the same train line) and has some good museums but I would opt for Pistoia between them. It will certainly not have the same level of English proficiency or accommodation for tourists as Lucca - whether that's a plus or a minus is up to you.
I would also add Pietrasanta, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Sarzana - maybe combined with Lerici and/or Tellaro by bus to the list of interesting places. But these were some of the places on my list from Lucca so the will be longer from Pistoia than from Lucca. Although you will also be close to Montecatini Terme and Montecatini Alto. There is also Fiesole outside Florence since you will be closer to Florence.
Your list of places to explore from Siena looks great. If you go to Cortona you'll also pass by Castiglion Fiorentino which I've had my eye on for a while, but there are always more places to see than time.
Have a great trip, hopefully this 'obstacle' will turn into a real opportunity,
=Tod
Posted by
Boston
1994 posts
Pistoia is a very good alternative. There is a wonderful central Piazza del Duomo with the tower and Church of San Zeno and some excellent other artistic and architectural landmarks nearby such as the Gothic pulpit by Pisano, and the Della Robbia ceramic frieze of the Ospedale del Ceppo. Pistoia was named the Italian Capitol of Culture in 2017. The town is lively, friendly, and the beautiful Tuscan bricks make even ordinary buildings into artworks. You should enjoy the lampredotto pannino (it's good, I swear) although the speciality of Macaroni with duck may be the more popular choice. If you stay to the southern side of the Piazza Duomo you'll be better placed to walk to the train station for day trips.
To avoid Comics & Games disruption you also may not want to visit Lucca for a couple of days after it ends (Nov.1) - some of the local businesses close afterwards in order to recover. Also November 2 is a minor feast day (All Souls) so things can be subdued anyway.
Posted by
Hampshire, UK
437 posts
How tied are you to wanting to visit that region of Tuscany?
There are three (so far) places in Italy that I felt that I could happily live - Siena, Lucca and my unrelated suggestion, Ferrara in Emilia Romagna. I felt Ferrara had a very similar feeling to Lucca - also a walled city, great medieval streets and central district. Excellent restaurants and lots of day trip options (Bologna, Ravenna, Padua, Venica.
Admittedly Ferrara to Siena is a bit of a pain - Just over 3 hours by train.
Posted by
OP
51 posts
Thank you all so much for your input and suggestions. It was validating to read that many agreed with Pistoia as an alternative. Reading many posts as part of my research has taught me so many things to consider that have improved our travels. I'm grateful for all the insights and lessons shared here. Our travel plans have pivoted to include the Amalfi coast, so I will begin a new post for help with that itinerary. Happy travels!
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
2284 posts
That's quite a pivot.
Be aware that traditionally weather at the coast in October can be much less predictable. In the last couple of years it's been beautiful in October - I was in Salerno for 8 days near the end of October in 2024 and it was nice or beautiful every single day. Also be aware that the ferry service greatly reduces November 1st and the AC goes into post season winter mode which will affect transportation, lodging and eating options as the locals decompress from the crush of summer season.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
12452 posts
As a counterpoint, since you are planning so many day trips, the Comics and Games event may not be such a problem for you. We stayed in Lucca one year, unaware of the festival until we arrived. We found it quite entertaining to walk the streets with the participants for one afternoon. Since you have a week planned, make your out-of-Lucca day trips on the two peaks days of the festival, which is a weekend as I remember. The city is very quiet after the festa.
Posted by
10553 posts
Consider a weeks in Umbria, we used Spoleto as our base city.
Do Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio, Spello, Spoleto and Orvieto.