Spending several week in Lucca in November. What would you recommend - restaurants, shops, sights, people watching places, photography opportunities..... Thanks.
Posted by
San Francisco
52 posts
Hi MaryL! We will be in Lucca for a week in early June 2012. Have been following this recent thread in Slow Travel Talk you might find useful. We were there for a few hours in 2007 on a cruise ship tour and can't wait to return and explore. http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/862600685/m/259005145001 ...and I also found these for the city and for the countryside: http://www.welcometuscany.it/tuscany/lucca/lucca.htm http://www.welcometuscany.it/tuscany/lucca/garfagnana/garfagnana.htm The Guinigi Tower (with trees on the top) looks like a fabulous place to photograph. Also, biking or walking along the 3-mile city wall ramparts and looking down in the streets and hidden gardens of the town.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Mary, have you bought any guide books? That's usually a great place to start. I'm guessing you're also going to want to find out about daytrips. The RS Florence/Tuscany book is a great start, but you would probably exhaust it after the first couple of weeks. Happy travels.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Two restaurant recommendations: Trattoria da Leo in the center of town Gli Orti di via Elisa near the Porte Elisa
Posted by
OP
Seattle, Washington, USA
105 posts
Thanks. Keep the suggestions coming, as I am creating a google map for my Nov trip.
Posted by
San Francisco, CA
166 posts
Agree that you must climb Torre Guingi for the view: http://www.lodgephoto.com/galleries/italy-tuscany-lucca-luccacenter/12th-century-church-san-frediano-piazza-anfiteatro-180.html If you like architecture or churches at all, you must see San Michelle cathedral. A riot of Romanesque architecture and columns: http://www.lodgephoto.com/galleries/italy-tuscany-lucca-sanmichele/ Piazza Anfiteatro is also photogenic and fun to do: http://www.lodgephoto.com/galleries/italy-tuscany-lucca-piazzaantifeatro/ I also liked just wandering around the center of town, along Via Fillungo (silkthread street). Lots of great shops and people-watching opportunities. The walls are also fun to walk, especially in the late afternoon Passagiata. Everyone is out there on their bike.
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
the Torre delle Ore provides a good view of the tree tower, so you can use both photos as bookends of each other. there are many threads regarding Lucca. Here is the most recent, and it might be useful for you. http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/73150/visiting-lucca-on-way-to-ct-from-florence.html