We have a day planned in September ( Sunday the 16th ) to go to Pisa & Lucca from Florence. It will be the weekend of the Antique market for Lucca. Trying to decide if we should got to Pisa first, or Lucca first.
Would welcome any input you may have.
I can tell you that there is more to see and do in Lucca than in Pisa, which is basically a one trick pony (piazza dei Miracoli with tower, cathedral, baptistery, etc.). But what to do first is up to you.
Both Pisa and Lucca worth half a day visit and both can easily be discovered by walking.
As a local I have no preference actually but please do remember that Lucca on those days might be crowded not only because of the antique market but also for the traditional FIERA following the St.Cross's procession on the 13 th. So I suggest to visit Lucca in the morning not forgetting the statue of Ilaria del Carretto inside the Duomo and to buy Buccellato cake. After lunch please avoid touristic spot, you may travel to Pisa - If by car take the directions to Pisa via Santa Maria del Giudice which take you thru a short tunnel which ends above San Giuliano Terme ( Thermal Baths of Pisa) where a large view over the Town of Pisa down to the Tyrrenean Sea will wait for you. In Pisa don't forget to visit the Lungarno (Arno river's sideroads) and the Piazza dei Cavalieri 5minutes'walking from the famous Piazza dei Miracoli. Enjoy your stay in our wonderful place. Leonardo
We took the train from Florence to Pisa. We looked around and had lunch at a little cafe before catching the train to Lucca. Some of our family hired bikes to ride around the walls, others strolled. A lovely way to spend the afternoon before heading back to Florence.
As Roberto pointed out, Pisa has a single interesting feature. Yes, there's the iconic leaning bell tower however...that's it! It's arguably the most overrated travel site in the world. Every two-bit tourist in the world is there taking idiotic pictures and every street vendor is there chasing all the tourists to hock their broken goods. Lucca is much, much more interesting, more places to eat, the surrounding wall is a great spot to have a picnic under a tree or, leisurely bike ride, many more shops to poke your head into, there's a couple of very cool wine bar/shops, it's history is extensive. Lucca even has it's own unique dish, Tortelli Lucchese and it's olive oil production is world renown. Lucca has it in spades IMHO.
The Field of Miracles monuments are open till 20:00 in the summer. I was staying in Lucca and decided to take advantage of the later hours, figuring the crowds wouldn't be as large later in the day. I left Lucca around 4 pm for Pisa, and still had a few hours before things closed. So you might consider going to Lucca first, leaving for Pisa later in the afternoon, and then getting back to Florence late in the evening.
Thank you kindly for all of the great responses. Looks like we will go to Lucca, spend most of the day, and then spend the early evening in Pisa, and then train back to Florence.
