Lucca itinerary--we need help!

Patty, I really like Lucca and the surrounding area. There's lots to do - so, for a start: It's a direct and easy bus ride from Lucca to the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa (20-25 min.). The bus to/from Lucca stops just in front! Renting a bicycle and riding atop the walls is a great way to spend 2-3 hours. Besides which, it's a great town to just stroll around and do the cafe / wine sipping / watching the world go by (tourists & residents alike). Find the statue of Puccini. Catch some music... You can rent a car for 48 hours and loop to the Chianti area and/or to San Gimignano. You can take a day trip by bus to Florence even.

Thanks for the suggestions. We would like to spend two nights in Lucca and then take a bus??? to the Chianti region? Can we get in San Gimignano, Volterra and Montalcino? Where should we make our base in this area?

I'd definitely recommend a car then, for those days after Lucca. In addition, I'd look for an agriturismo for a couple of nights, anywhere in the quadrant between San Gimignano and Chianti. That would be almost like a vacation, during the vacation!! PS - I'd ask a new question: Agriturismo between San Gimignano and the Chianti?

If you have no intentions of driving (we didn't) I would make Siena the base. There are bus lines to the Chianti region, Montalcino, Montepulciano, etc that are all very easy and accesible from either P Gramsci in town or a short city bus ride down to the train station. I believe there is a more frequent bus to San Gimigiano as well, but I don't know the details. The downside of this would be seeing less towns than you would be able to with a car, but closer examination isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Thank you for all the suggestions. What do you think of this itinerary? Train from Nice(where we are living for one month)to Lucca. (2 Nights) Train from Lucca to Siena. (3 nights) Bus (daytrips) to San G., Montalcino and Volterra(is that nearby? or worth going to?)
Train Siena to Nice.

That sounds good, with 2 nights in Lucca + 3 in Siena.

Volterra is probably not too far. I would guess 2 hours or so by bus. It was a nice town, we didn't have much time there, however. Nice views on the hill. We took a tour that combined San Gimigiano and Volterra (along with wine, olive oil and cheese tasting - PM me if you want details) to see as much as we could in a day, then bussed to Montalcino. Sticking to busses - I would omit either Volterra or Montalcino. Both offer great views of the countryside and quaint town centers that were fun to wander about in, I'd give the edge to Volterra unless you are a fan of wine. Brunello is definitely worth it's accord. Doing this would leave enough time to explore Siena during the day. It's certainly worth it.

I will be in LUcca for three nights next month. Pisa is an easy day trip (by train). YOu can tak e a bus to San Gimignano (a village close to Lucca). it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Barga would be another town for a day trip, about an hour from Lucca taking you over the Ponte Della Maddena (DEvils Bridge).
Lots of shopping spots on via fillungo and there is an opera performance every evening (of Puccinis operas) at the church.