We will be staying in CT; Levanto for 4 days. One day I would like to go to Lucca for a day. It is a little over 1 hr driving (we will vane a car). Is there any other towns/places we can stop in on the way to or on a return trip. Is Lucca worth a trip or is there other places more worthy of a day trip. We are inetersted in history food/drink, landscape.
Thank you
Posted by
211 posts
Lucca is lovely -- you can ride bikes or walk on the city walls. Lots of churches and towers and pedestrian only streets.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Some very good restaurants in Lucca, too.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
LeeB, any recommendations for a restourant. I prefer a local, casual, seafood or typical for the area?
Do you think a side trip to Livorno on the way back is too much?
Thanks
Posted by
211 posts
Was too busy exploring to sit down to eat so no restaurant recommendations from me. Had to get some snacks by the train station.
Livorno is southwest of Lucca and then you have to go back up to Levanto -- long day. I'd go for it.
Posted by
Carmel, CA, USA
2456 posts
I really enjoyed Lucca. You can bike, hike, stroll or picnic on top of the incredibly wide walls. You can climb the Tower of Giungi with trees growing on the top. Strolling through the old town with shops and churches is relaxing and fun. Nice Grom gelateria. If you stay through the evening, there is some kind of Puccini concert or performance every evening of the year, I believe. (maybe not Christmas, I'm not sure.) A great restaurant that fits your desires is Trattoria da Leo near the center of town, also recommended by RS. Not fancy or expensive, but very popular with locals, so reservations are highly recommended for lunch or dinner. As for other stops that same day, Carrara (marble town) and Viareggio (beaches) are both close to the route between Levanto and Lucca. Pisa (and its tower, etc.) is a little further south from Lucca. Livorno seems quite a bit more out of the way, and I think, the least interesting of all of these choices.