Hi All,
On July 9th, I have the opportunity to spend approximately six hours in Lucca. My idea would be to ride the wall, visit a church and have a meal.
My first question is can this be accomplished in six hours and still be relatively relaxed and chill?
My second question is: what do you love about Lucca that should not be missed, even in this abbreviated visit.
Thank you!!
Keir
I guess it sort of depends on how you get your jollies.
I’ve only been to Lucca once, but my favorite thing I did was to walk/ride along the walls. I remember the town being pleasant, too, and I had some amazing focaccia there also. Again, the best thing you’ll probably do is walk along the wall for an hour or two.
Six hours should be more than enough. I think walking the wall is better than riding a bike, I mean it takes an hour to hour and half to walk it. The duomo is pretty quick to see. Go up the Guinigi Tower for a nice view of the town.
Travelin' Man - thank you.
Marco - I will definitely do the Torre Guinigi. Thank you for the suggestion!
Keir
Will you have time for a meal? Lucca has it’s own distinct cuisine.
I have been to Lucca twice, both times probably 6 hours or less......I biked the walls twice, wandered the town, had lunch, went in a few churches, and grabbed a train back to Florence....I went to Osteria Baralla, right out the back side of Piazza Anfiteatro and had Lucchese pasta and Lucchese dolci as well! Both delicious!
Suki - yes, I am planning either a late lunch or relatively early dinner in Lucca.
Katherine - thanks for the tip re Osteria Baralla, I will definitely keep it in mind!
Keir
Have fun!
The wall walk is nice. You’ll be able to moon walk along an historic landmark if you so desire.
I enjoyed the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, the Roman Amphitheatre in the middle of town - a walled piazza with restaurants inside around the edges along with some shops and places for children to play and local folks to gather. I ate there a few times - great for people watching. I also enjoyed meandering among the town's shops and purchased some dishes made locally.
We are in Lucca now and find it beautiful and relaxing.
Our favorite thing so far has been walking on the wall and looking at the countryside and town from there.
We also loved seeing St. Martin’s Cathedral but also great just one minute away is St. Giovanni’s church because underneath you can walk among these amazing archeological ruins! They are right there next to you! You can buy a combo ticket for both the Cathedral and St Giovanni and the ruins and the museum ( also next door) for 10 euros.
Hi Keir,
Six hours in Lucca is generally enough time to ride the wall, visit a church, and have a meal while maintaining a relatively relaxed and chill pace. The city's historic center is compact and easy to navigate, making it feasible to enjoy these activities within your timeframe.
However, it's worth noting that July is the period of the Lucca Summer Festival. Although there isn't a show scheduled for July 9th, the city may be busier than usual due to the festival's events. This could affect the usual calm atmosphere and lead to some areas being more crowded.
Why not consider spending more time in Lucca to fully immerse yourself in its beauty and perhaps catch one of the festival's shows? It could be a fantastic addition to your trip and provide a richer experience of the city's vibrant cultural atmosphere.
Enjoy your visit to Lucca!
Barbara
Wow - many, many thanks to everyone who took the time to write and you great insights.
Debbie - thank you for the recommendation for the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro. It is added to my list.
mistimetotravel - I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I haven't met a church in Italy that wasn't worth going into. :-) I will make sure to visit San Martino and Santi Giovanni.
info/Barbara - you clearly have a love for Lucca. I am will be in Florence for three weeks this June. I do not have a car and am using the train and, possibly, buses to explore towns that are relatively close by. This visit is to dip my toes into a couple of new towns. I am sure I will back to Lucca, maybe even this time, for a longer stay.
Best regards,
Keir
I really enjoyed the Garden of the Palazzo Pfanner. (Could have toured the Palazzo itself also, but must have been in a staying-outdoors mood. ). One local food specialty I enjoyed a lot was Farro Risotto with Eggplant and Tomato.
Inbsig - Thank you for your reply. I will keep an eye out for the farro risotto with eggplant and tomato!! And spending time in gardens is always time well spent. :-)
Glad you liked those suggestions, Keir. I recalled walking the wall, seeing the Palazzo Pfanner from there and looking down into its gardens, then being in the gardens and looking up at people biking and walking the wall. Also, I'm pretty sure I ate the special regional risotto at Trattoria da Leo, served by Signor Leo himself, while telling me all about it. I liked it so much, I learned how to make it at home.
