Monterossa→Lucca→Florence

I believe there is luggage storage in the Lucca station
If not there are several nearby

Here is one:
https://radicalstorage.com/luggage-storage/lucca?ac=532&subac=c:gad-to:en-ct:cy-lt:ml&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnsqdBhCGARIsAAyjYjTVMSq0KxuAktfRvsj3EZPmW4ObrRrANnTE5rmQEhpRHn_tz3MddOIaAnrjEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Google will bring up more

By the current schedules there are no direct trains between MonterossO (note spelling) and Lucca. You'll have to change at least once, in Viareggio.

Now there are direct trains to Pisa, in summer they could add a direct to Firenze CdM station.

Hello megncraig,

You are correct that Lucca lies on one of the common routes between La Spezia (the train station city south of CT) and Florence.
As ChristineH pointed out luggage storage shouldn't be an issue so stopping off on in Lucca on the way to Florence is a completely feasible plan.

To me it comes down to a question of timing. If you are getting out of CT early and will be passing through Lucca early in the day it seems like a pretty good plan. If you move onto Florence you probably won't be able to check into your room yet and will need to stash your bags at the hotel anyway - so why not use that time in Lucca and move onto Florence when you can check-in. But if you're going to be getting into Lucca sometime in the afternoon and are only going to spend a couple of hurried hours then maybe take the time to come back when you're less hurried.

I really like Lucca - I just got back from staying there for several days - but the opinion on the forum seems less positive. It is light on sights and is generally just a charming, ancient town full of shops, cafes, little piazzas and old churches. I think enjoying Lucca is more like a hill town where there isn't much of an agenda and more wandering and soaking up the atmosphere and Italian il dolce far niente. I mention so you can gauge the speed and time of your visit. It might be what you're looking for to break up a few sight heavy days in Florence or maybe a long afternoon of wandering the city and spritzing on the piazza before heading onto Florence sounds great to you.

Either way pack assuming you're going to have to dump your bags and wander out into a city with only your purse/daybag so you're prepared when you get to where you're going. The train station in Lucca is outside the city walls so storing your bags as close as possible to the train station is a plus because it's a walk into the city center.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

Also don't miss Gelateria De’ Coltelli just off Piazza San Michele.

If sleeping in Florence take a day trip to Lucca from Florence’s SM Novella train station (1h 30m) by direct train.

Thank you all for your quick responses!