Sightseeing in Tuscany

Where you will want to stay is dependent on several factors. How long is your trip? Will you have a car? Are these five towns you listed the only ones you want to see, or are there others? Will this be a Tuscany-only trip, or will you want to see other places as well? There are no right or wrong answers, but letting us know the answers to these questions will give you much better responses.

Lucca and Pisa are only about a half hour apart, and are connected by trains and buses. So you probably wouldn't need or want to stay overnight in both. But you may not need to overnight in either, but instead can see them as day trips. I saw them on the same day, spending the morning in Lucca and then going to Pisa later in the afternoon. This worked well, as the souvenir vendors were literally packing up, and the marble in the Field of Miracles looked beautiful in the afternoon light. Although this was in March 1989, I still remember this as one of my best ever travel days.

In Lucca, rent a bike and ride around the top of the raised fortification wall (bike shops are pretty much everywhere near it). This gives you a bird's-eye view of the city, its many towers, and private terraces overflowing with flowers. Have a wonderful lunch at Buca di Sant Antonio on Via dela Cervia. In Pisa, there are other buildings than the Tower in the Field of Dreams - check out the acoustic echos in the Baptistry (a guard demonstrates by vocalizing periodically). If you're a foodie and have the time, take a cooking class somewhere - I took a wonderful one in Castelfiorintino at the Castello di Oliveto. Whatever you do, Enjoy!

I would spend a few days in Lucca and daytrip to Pisa from there. You could also daytrip to Siena from Florence, although there is enough in Siena to keep me occupied for a couple of days, at least. Volterra can also be a daytrip from Siena or Florence. How much time do you have? Do you like having one or two base cities and daytripping, or do you prefer to have more time in each city after the daytrippers have gone (and before they arrive)?

In the Campo complex in Pisa, there is the Duomo, belltower, baptistry, and cemetery. I would try to spend some time at all of them (one combination ticket will do it).

Lucca has many musical events (Puccini's birthplace), so it's a good place to spend a couple of nights. You can rent a bike or walk the circuit wall around the city (about 4km). There are some great restaurants and several old churches, and a few small museums.

I agree that there is no need to stay in Pisa AND Lucca. I would stay in Lucca and day trip. You have 5 Terre close by. Go to Portovenere and take the boat to 5 Terre, it is a fun way to see the towns. Florence is an hour by train from Lucca so it could be day tripped as well. Our family went to the beach at Viareggio. Puccini's villa and museum are also there if you are an opera buff.

Read "Saving Italy," and then be sure to at least step into the Campo Santo (cemetery) in Pisa. It is an amazing feat they have accomplished.

id say stay in Florence and do day trips.....you'll want to see museums, etc in Florence and I think you can get a sit down meal almost any time of night after you return from your day trip.......

Thank you for all the suggestions! i will spend 10 days in Tuscany, August 22nd i come back home, so i would like to do all that it's possible becouse i don't know when will ever come back.
I stay 3 days in Lucca and the rest of the days in Florence for going from there to Siena and Volterra.
When i stay in Lucca i 'm thinking to go to Pisa and to the coast for half a day/day. I read too that Lucca is really safe to visit by bikes and perhaps i can do also a bike trip around. Are a lot of shopsthat rent bikes? I have also two kids with me and my mother.
Thanks ! i'm so excited!

Hi Monica!!! :)
I spent some days with my family in Tuscany and we really love it!!! :)

Pisa is very nice but I think if you need to decide, to stay in Lucca because there's a lot of things to see and to do :)

The city town is pedestrian, you can start from the medievals walls, you can have an ice cream or take something in the lots of restaurants you find there, then there are lots of attractions, the cathedral of saint Martino, the anfitheater , the Guinigi's tower with the trees on the top, saint Michel church and Napoleone's squares, Via Fillungo is the main street and there you find shops, restaurants and a lot of people :)

I suggest you to take a bike so you can ride on the Walls , and you spend less time;we were there by train andwhen you exit from the train station in front of you , you will find a rental bike shop and they are very cute and low prices. You find there every kind of bikes,here below the website : http://www.touristcenterlucca.com/rentbikelucca.php

Plenty of shops that rent bikes in Lucca, especially near the entrances to the walls, you will have no problem finding bikes for your family.

I think the advice on this thread is good. Lucca and Pisa can be done as daytrips. You can also find more information in Rick's current Florence guidebook. I hope this helps some.

Hello to everybody

I would like to say thanks to all of you, your advices are been precious. I was come back from Tuscany few days ago,it was a wonderful trip! i wouldn't come back.. but anyway!
At the end i spent about two days in Lucca and half a day in Pisa. From Florence i take a train for Lucca and i loved it. Outside the train station i see the shop that you have mentioned ; really nice place and so kind people . I left all the stuff that i have with me and i rent bikes! It was really convenient. I suggest to anyone who passes by to visit the Tourist Center Lucca, excellent service of information and prepared staff.

Lucca is beautiful , little but there are a lot of interesting things. The old town is surronded by the walls, that are so large and impressive that you do not expect. I ride a bike all along the periples on TOP! it's flat and really wide so it's safe for kids , there are playgrounds and a café on. From the wall you can see also Palazzo Pfanner, an old princely palace,famous for the garden with statues.
Best tips for the attracions: Guinigi tower, that has horrible stairs but when you reach the top and you discover ancient oaks.. the view is amazing;
San Martino Church is the Duomo of Lucca ; Fillungo is main street that link you to Anfiteatro Square; San Frediano Church for the beautiful mosaic on the face and San Michele Church,Giacomo Puccini house and museums, Clock Tower etc..
Too things to see in a day if you want to relax,explore, taste the flavours of the Lucca cuisine.

Pisa is strange; i admire the leaning tower only . Lucca was a discovery.
Florence and Siena are bigger and i appreciate it also.
Let's go to Tuscany, enjoy , taste and relax! it's a beaty.

Thanks for your feedback, and confirming that my memories of visiting Lucca in 1989 are correct (I have to go back, and soon!)