Lucca and Surroundings

Lucca is located 9 km from Casa Mennone and it is one of the most beautiful "walled-in" cities of Europe with an important past consisting of more than two thousand years of history, as witnessed today by its walls and its architecture and layout of squares, typical of the Romanesque tradition. With wealthy merchants, a flourishing trade and a continuous influx of pilgrims bound for Rome, the Middle Ages, Lucca's golden age, saw the building of countless churches and fine houses, which still today enrich the fabric of the city.
Places to see in Lucca: the Cathedral; the Villa Guinigi; the churches of San Frediano and San Michele in Foro; the Palazzo Pfanner, the most attractive baroque building in the city with a romantic atmosphere and its garden decorated with statues; the Palazzo Mansi; the amphitheatre Piazza; and the Guinigi Tower, from the top of which, with its small roof garden and the famous holm oaks, there is a breath-taking view over the city and of the surrounding countryside. Walking through the streets of the historic city centre, you are sure to be drawn to the traditional shops, such as the Amedeo Giusti bakery with its mouth-watering breads and pastries baked by old-fashioned methods, or Prospero the grocer's, at number 13, the oldest shop in Lucca, where you can feast your eyes on the local flours and vegetables, such as the extraordinary "farro" of the Garfagnana.
Towards the sea: Lake Massaciuccoli 31km, Viareggio 37km, Forte dei Marmi 56km.
Lake Massaciuccoli and the extensive area of marshland around it are the largest wetlands in central Italy. A place full of fascination, from memories of the famous composer Puccini to Roman ruins – witness to man's presence since ancient times – and fine 14th Century villas. A landscape characterised by hills planted with olive groves, Romanesque churches and historic towns, this is the Massarosa region, an ideal starting point for excursions to the Migliarino Regional Park - San Rossore - Massaciuccoli: on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or, why not, in a carriage from a bygone era. www.oasilipumassaciuccoli.org.
The famous composer Giacomo Puccini spent long periods of his life in the Villa di Torre de Lago Puccini, alternating between the composition of lyric operas and coot shooting expeditions. The Puccini festival is held annually in a huge open-air theatre. www.puccinielasualucca.com
On the outskirts of Lucca are over 300 villas built in the countryside and hills, dating back to the fourteenth century. The most important of these homes open their gates to visitors to allow visits into their majestic parks and beautiful gardens. Among these we mention a few: Villa Mansi, Villa di Camigliano and Villa Reale di Marlia. Numerous throughout the territory of Lucca, the churches of the people can be found outside the villages, and are considered the first meeting places of the faithful Christians. These churches are still a point of fascination due to their simplicity and beauty.

Viareggio, once the sophisticated, belle époque haunt of the aristocracy, artists and writers; today this jewel of the Versilia region is the destination of seaside holidaymakers with its elegant, well-run hotels, restaurants, fashionable bars and its famous promenade with a wealth of shops, cinemas, cafes and Liberty-style buildings. But the city, with its historic centre and avenues of pines, also retains reminders of its splendid social and cultural past. Viareggio harbour with its famous shipyards, luxury yachts and romantic fishing boats is a brightly coloured, multi-faceted world which had undisputed control of the seas.
Pietrasanta, Seravezza and Stazzema are the main gateways to the Apuan Alps Natural Park. The most distinguishing feature of the landscape is the marble which creates rugged mountain peaks, deep valleys and steep hillsides. Equally important, however, is the enormous variety of flora and fauna. www.parks.it
The rugged charm of the mountains: the Garfagnana: Castelnuovo, the meeting point of the roads which link Garfagnana to Lucca and Lunigiana, Emilia; and Versilia, the historic capital of the Garfagnana, protected in the past by the governors' castle and still today the focal point for all the communities of the upper valley. Proud of its past as the Estensi capital in Garfagnana, the town preserves this magnificent renaissance fortress with care. Around Gallicano, the valley twists narrowly through the spurs of the Apuan Alps, gouged out by the river, which higher up forms a lake. Enclosed within the walls of overhanging rock is a spectacular hermitage. Places to visit: the Grotta del Vento (Cave of the Wind) is one of the most interesting natural caves in Europe www.grottadelvento.com; on the left bank of the River Serchio you will find the Castle of Verrùcole and the imposing town of Castiglione di Garfagnana; and the Orecchiella natural park with its wonderful variety of scenery.