Lucca - small details

1. On the RS map, p. 590 of this year's Italy book, the bus stop at P. G. Verdi is shown on the far left of the map, below the I for Tourist Information. From there, it's a 15-minute walk to P. Anfiteatro, but not straight.

2. On Google Maps, you can see the wall walking path in light gray (Via della Mura Urbana), along with some gray paths leading up to it. Ignore the white roads, which are going through a gate in the wall.

3. See arrival notes on p. 592 about taking the level route through Porta San Pietro. Looks like about 5 minutes.

Susan,

• Ramparts - You'll see the wide ramps to get up on the top of the ramparts when you're there. They're very easy to spot.
• Walk from station - It will take about 10-15 minutes to walk from the station into the city. It's all level so a very easy walk, and the entrances are accessed on wide paths, which are easy to see. You'll see the layout when you get outside the station.

1. I show it to be about 3/4 mile walk. Wish I could describe it, but street names keep changing along the way. Don't be afraid to ask directions if you get lost.
2. The ramps to access the wall are easy to spot. Where ever a street penetrates the wall there will be a ramp, as well as at other spots.
3. The train station is directly outside the wall across the "moat" on the south side. It is pretty much due south of the Duomo. You can exit on the street at Porta San Pietro. There are also some walkways across the moat to short cut.

Laura and Ken - THANK YOU from the dumb and blind! I have both the 2016 Tuscany and 2016 Italy and until you mentioned p. 590 I did not see that there was a 2-page Lucca map - I'd been searching in the 1-page map (with a magnifying glass). Also, I was looking at the Connections section vs. the Arrival section for info about getting to the station. Duh! I should've known Rick wouldn't leave me hanging! So to get to the station from the center I just need to reverse his directions, and now that I'm on the correct map I can clearly see this, as well as the location of our bus from Pisa. Still haven't found the gray wall path on Google but am sure it's there so I'll keep looking, and as Ken says the access points will be easy to spot. GRAZIE MOLTO!!

Some of the access points to the top of the wall are stairs; others are sloping paths, likewise easy to spot. If you wish, you could combine walking the ramparts with getting to the Anfiteatro - go to the top of the wall right after getting off the bus, proceed right (clockwise) along the top of the wall, then, just past the garden of the Palazzo Pfanner (fountain, statues, very pretty), come down from the wall and head for the Anfiteatro.

Sam - thanks for even more good information. And inbsig, the idea of getting from the bus stop to the piazza using the walls is a great idea. And then if we're not dead after doing the walking tour and seeing the sights we can walk the rest of the walls before taking the rain back to Florence. Sounds like a blast!

I don' t remember anything difficult about walking the walls in Lucca and visiting the historic town itself, and that is significant, because I was accompanied by my 70-year-old mother. She had noticeable breathing problems at the time and was later diagnosed with emphysema. I'm sure you'll hAve no trouble on your visit.

Lucca is utterly charming - I'm sure you'll have a lovely time! I was just looking at my Lucca pictures and hoping to go back there.

First I have to agree with Inbsig, Lucca is utterly charming. I was there 25 years ago and was not impressed, and I went back last September, and fell in love with the city.

As the others have commented, nothing is very far and it is easy to get around. One suggestion is renting a bicycle to see the city. There is a rental place in the square in front of the train station. I don´t have the latest RS guide, but in the last edition he must mention it as he had visited that store. Again, like Inbsig, I have some incredible photos of the family on the city walls, and of course in the piazzas eating gelato.

One last thing to take into account is when you are going. We were there around the 9th or 10th of September, and the weather was sunny and 82, with comfortable humidity. Friends had been there three weeks (mid August) earlier and they had very hot and humid weather.

The ramparts are about four kilometers, total, a very easy walk with lots of places to stop for views.