Barga/Lucca Area; Small local towns to visit and do we need a car

Posted by Patty (Amelia Island, FL) on 07/10/22 01:48 PM

We will be traveling from the Arezzo area to the Barga area, staying at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciccico for 3 nights and then will be staying in Lucca for 2 nights.

Where to Go?
We have been to Florence, CT, Pisa etc and would like suggestions of smaller towns/sights to visit near Barga and/or Lucca.

Mode of Transportation?
We have a car while in Arezzo but are debating if we turn the car back in as we are leaving Arezzo and then use public transportation for the rest of the trip…OR do we keep the car through the Barga portion and return it before we go to Lucca?

Posted by Threadwear

Fort Myers, FL

07/10/22 03:03 PM

1953 posts

I found Montecatini-Alto a very interesting small village high up above Montecatini-Terme. There is a funicular that runs up and down the mountain. Great views up there. You can walk the entire area in a couple of hours. Many restaurants and I still believe there is a gelato shop up there that is the best I have ever had in Italy. It is only a 30 minute train ride from Lucca.

I would keep the car in Barga. Barga doesn't seem to have an all that great train line.

Posted by Mike

Boston

07/10/22 03:23 PM

1820 posts

Nearby Pistoia is greatly underrated.

Posted by princess pupule

martinez, ca, usa

07/10/22 08:05 PM

2458 posts

hey hey patty
keep the car until your time is over in lucca. small towns/villages and public transportation not the best. you can do better in your car seeing the countryside and time is on your side.
collodi is home to pinocchio, the park, garzoni gardens and the butterfly house.
lovefromtuscany.com/ garfagnana
follow the serchio river and see the devil's bridge
lovefromtuscany.com/ barga
fattoriaaldotto.it
family owned vineyard and farm, about 10 minutes from lucca. simple wine tasting or experiencing a charcuterie platter.
send an email for reservation.
sit outside tables in the center of piazza with shops, restaurants, cafes, people watch, enjoy a glass of wine
restaurantguru.com/ lucca
so much to see and do away from the crowds and enjoy the small towns which i really prefer plus people watching with my glass of wine.
aloha

Posted by S J

Western Canada

07/11/22 05:32 PM

3650 posts

I would keep the car.
We drove north from Lucca and it was lovely to stop into Bagni di Lucca, Barga, and other small towns.
Barga is full of Scottish Italians!
We kept going on the recommendation of the owner of a restaurant we stopped at in Barga, and found a teeny "hanging" village (literally clinging to the side of a very steep hill) high in the mountains, called Lucchio.
It was abandoned for a while, but is slowly coming back to life.

https://bellabagnidilucca.com/tag/lucchio/