LUCCA FAQ`S
Lucca
is on the Florence-Viareggio train line, with an average 1
to 2 trains from Florence hourly (80 - 105
min.) connecting Florence to Lucca. A similar number of trains make the short hop to/from Pisa (30 min.),
which a major stop on the main coastal rail line north
from Rome (total time
from Rome, via either Pisa or Florence: 3:30 - 3:45). The
station is a short walk south of Porta San Pietro. Everything within in the walls of Lucca is less
than a 20 minute walk to the train station.
By car, the
A11 runs from Florence past Prato, Pistoia, and Montecatini before hitting
Lucca. Inside the walls, you`ll usually find a paid-parking space underground
at Mazzini (enter from the east, through the Porta
Elisa, and take an immediate right).
A VaiBus (www.vaibus.it)
service runs hourly from Florence (70 min.) and from Pisa (50 min.) to Lucca’s
Piazzale Verdi.
To make your way from the Lucca train station to the historic center, it is only about a five minute walk, and you can see the wall from outside the station. You`ll enter the wall through Porta San Pietro. How can I get around using public transportation?
The main public transportation options for travel within the
city are taxis. Trains and busses are available for transportation outside
of the city.
Taxis are available within Lucca, but because of the city`s
small size, they are not generally used within the city. Taxi Lucca is one
company offering service in the city, and can be reached at (0583/494989).
Busses and trains are the best options for commuting via public
transportation to other areas of Tuscany. The train station in Lucca is
located on the south side of town in Piazza Ricasoli, two blocks outside the
ramparts.
The bus station in Lucca is located next to the tourist office
in the city. General information about routes, schedules and fares can be
found locally.
Lucca is a fairly small town, and getting around within its walls is not very difficult as most places are accessible by foot. However sometimes walking is not an option, and in these situations taxis are great options. Taxi Lucca is one company offering service in the city, and can be reached at (0583/494989). It is very rare to catch a cab on the side of the street, so calling ahead of time to arrange for a ride is recommended. Hotels, restaurants, and bars will be happy to call for you. Fares are regulated, and based on the meter, so negotiating about price is not required. Fares will quickly grow large if planning on traveling far outside of the city. In these situations, consider other modes of transportation like renting a car.
Can I walk to most places in the city?The city walls keep out most of the cars, leaving a relaxed inner city for people to enjoy by foot. People also aren`t rushing to the next huge attraction, you`ll mostly find locals enjoying the Italian pace of life. Make sure to walk through the beautiful park built on top of the medieval walls.
Is Lucca a bicycle-friendly city?
Lucca provides great
options to travel by bike. One of the most famous bike routes around the city
is actually atop its 2.5 mile ancient city walls. However, biking is hardly
necessary for the old city as it is so compact, but helpful if you have
accommodations further out of town.
For bike rentals, check
with your hotel to see if they have bicycles you can use. If you`re only in
Lucca for a day trip, you can rent bikes outside the train station at Tourist
center Lucca`s Bike Rental. Prices run about €2.5 per hour or €10 per
day. One hour will take you around the ramparts a couple of times.
Lucca
has several parking
areas both outside and inside the city walls. Most of them are
paid parking lots, but outside the old city center you may also find some free
ones. If you intend to get to Lucca by car then, you shouldn`t find any difficulty in
finding a free spot, except when there are events
that always attract thousands of people.
i
The free parking is
located outside the city wall, close to the ex hospital building and in the
area of Giannotti (except the whole month of September, during which the
large parking area is completely taken up by the famous Lucca Fanfair). These
parking areas are quite close to the old center of the city, so if you feel like
walking to the city walls, it will be a pleasant and short stroll - about
10-15 minutes. In alternative, all the outside areas are well connected to the center by city buses. Bus rides are frequent and a 70 minute ticket costs about €1.20. Tickets may be also purchased directly on the bus, but
costs €2.
There are tourists here, but it is significantly less crowded
than Florence or Rome. You will definitely find a lot more locals in this town.
Lucca is a mid-sized city (around 90,000 people) on the
northwestern edge of Tuscany. It`s about a 30-minute drive or train ride from
the tourist droves in Pisa. But somehow, Lucca has escaped everybody`s notice. It`s
not for lack of charm. Lucca is high up there on a list of the most charming
Tuscan cities. What is the main draw for this city is its ``everyday-ness`.
It`s a place still owned and operated by local people - not the tourist-industrial
complex. It`s simply a delight to wander.
People have been calling Lucca the hidden gem of Tuscany for
literally years, but somehow the droves of tourists and travelers have yet to
overtake the town. Maybe having Pisa as a neighbor has something to do with it.
Most people who come to Tuscany on a whirlwind trip will probably focus on
Florence and Pisa, while passing up their little sister Lucca. The breathable
streets and the fact that you don`t have to deal with crowds is a huge selling
point. You can be in the most magical place in the world, but if there are
dozens of others there with you fighting for the same magical moment, something
gets lost along the way. That`s a huge reason why Lucca is such a pleasure for
most travelers that visit here. Also, fewer tourists mean lower prices. With
less crowds and fewer tourist traps, visiting Lucca is a more authentic
experience. Plus you’ll avoid hotels and restaurants well-practiced at ripping
off travelers - so it`s cheaper too!
Lucca is a safe place to visit. Having said this, there
are certain precautions that travelers to the area should take in order to
ensure a smooth trip through Tuscany. Like always, the most important tool
for staying safe is common sense. Avoid traveling alone at night. This is
a general recommendation for any unfamiliar area, but should be followed in
Lucca as well. If staying with a group is not an option, make sure to
remain in lighted areas and take safe modes of transportation (car or taxi).
Walking alone at night is never a good idea.
Although street crime and theft is not common, taking certain
precautions can avoid these rare situations. Don`t carry around large
amounts of money, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry or looking flashy. Drawing
un-needed attention is never a good idea.
Pickpockets in the area do exist, but can be avoided by not
being a target in crowded public areas (the places that they thrive). Men
should store wallets in front pockets instead of rear, and women should keep
purses and bags close to their sides.
Lucca`s atmospheric markets are definitely worth a visit. Every third Saturday and Sunday of the month Lucca hosts a famous, and one of the largest, antique markets in Tuscany. It overflows into the streets surrounding Piazza Antelminelli from 8:00am – 3:00pm. The last weekend of the month local artisans sell their arts and crafts throughout the town. Again 8:00am - 3:00pm. The general market is held outside the town walls on Wednesdays and Saturdays and is a great source of fresh produce and household goods (8:00anm - 1:00pm).
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?
The currency of Italy is
the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct
currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon
arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airports and some train
stations.
ATMs are widely
available in Tuscany; this is the best way to obtain local currency. Credit
cards are accepted at most hotels and many restaurants.
Notes come in denominations of €500, €200,
€100, €50, €20, €10 and €5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and €1, and 50,
20, 10, five, two and one cents.
English may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist areas, but not everywhere. We suggest you get a good English-Italian dictionary and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
When are the mealtimes and when are restaurants usually open in Tuscany?Eating hours for lunch are between 12 - 2pm and dinner between 8 - 10pm. Most restaurants are open at those times, closed between meals, and rarely open throughout the day. Sundays and Mondays are the most common days for restaurant closings.
What is the food like?Lucca serves up some of the best food in Tuscany. Cucina lucchese (cuisine from Lucca) is considered to be some of the finest food in the region - and usually served cheaper than many restaurants in Pisa. Look for these specialties for an authentic culinary experience: tortelli (pasta stuffed with meat, vegetables and cheese topped in a meat ragù sauce), garmugia (bean soup with pancetta and vegetables) and the unique torta coi becchi dessert pie made with rice, swiss chard, parmigiano cheese, sugar and spices. In addition, only in Lucca you can find a special sweet-bread in the shape of a small baguette or bun. It`s called Buccellato and it has raisins inside and has a unique taste of anise.
Is it safe to drink the local water?It is safe to drink the water that comes out of the public fountains. Many locals fill gallon jugs and it is their primary source of drinking water. It is delicious and quite refreshing. In fact, it tastes better than most bottled water.
What are the best areas for shopping?
The main shopping street is Via Fillungo which runs roughly
north/south through the center of the city. It has a mix of high to mid-range
shops selling a range of Italian designer labels such as Missoni, Armani, Max
Mara, etc. The
cross-street Via Buia also has a number of chic boutiques.
The area is best known for hand-painted
ceramics or some of the food specialties - farro (a kind of nutty wheat), or
the polenta of the nearby Garfagnana and pecorino cheese, hams and salamis.
Whether
you`re in the mood to listen to live music, sip on fine wine, or dress up and
attend the opera, you`ll find it all in Lucca.
If you`re in
Lucca during the summer, head to a piazza, or town square. Many nights,
musicians hold free outdoor concerts. Piazza dell`Anfiteatro, Napoleone,
Grande, and San Martino are just a few of many piazzas scattered throughout the
city. These are great places to listen to jazz, folk, and blues bands. From
June to the end of July, the city council holds the Summer Festival. Well known
artists have performed at this annual event, including the Eagels, Elton John
and the Black Eyed Peas.
There are no
shortage of bars in Lucca, many with outdoor seating in the warmer months and
offer a relaxing atmosphere, perfect for catching up with friends and family
over a bottle of local wine. If you`re looking for something more lively or
open laer into the night, join the locals that tend to make the short trip to
Viareggio on the coast, which offers a far better selection of clubs.
Teatro del
Giglio is the birthplace of opera legend Giacomo Puccini. They love the opera
in Lucca. If you`re a fan, check out the Teatro del Giglio, one of the more
famous opera houses in town. The venue also serves as a site for concerts and
theatre performances and is well worth a visit.
Mid to late spring (April to May) and early autumn (September to October) are two of the best times to visit Tuscany. The Tuscan landscape is at its most vibrant and the weather is particularly pleasant. In the summer months (June to August), the fields are full of sunflowers and the fruit trees come into season, offering beautiful vistas and plenty of fresh produce to enjoy during the long hot days. In the cooler winter months (November to March) the crowds thin out, but seasonal markets and festivals still provide entertainment for off-season visitors on day trips from Florence but most hotels in the smaller towns and countryside are shut.
What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?
Emergency, dial
112
Ambulance, dial
118
San Luca Hospital, +39 0583
970111