In

My husband and I are flying into Pisa from Norway next week for a three night adventure. We plan on staying in Lucca-either Albergo San Martino or La Boheme b&b-any recommendations for either hotel? We hope to spend the first day in Lucca, second day either a daytrip to cinque terre or tuscan countryside (any ideas??) and last day in Pisa (is the tower worth climbing up)? This will be our fist time to this area of Italy and we'd really appreciate any info/ideas/places to eat, ect!!

xxx

ttt

Eye Spy

Don't spend the whole day in Pisa. Once you've visited the Campo dei Miracoli, you might want to visit Santa Maria della Spina church (check hours). After that, do something else. Pisa is not that interesting since it was so damaged after WWII. Half the day there is enough.

cd

Someone else might disagree but as lovely as Lucca is 1/2 day was enought for us. We walked on top of the walls, and her streets inside the walls, ate dinner and was ready to leave.

cheryl

Lucca is a pretty town, but I agree that it will not take much time to do.<BR>I disagree with the comments on Pis though..it reminded me of a small Florence (with the Arno going through)<BR>I suggest going in the afternoon and staying for dinner...Pisa has alot of hot new restaurants since it is a big college town.<BR>What was really fascinating to do was to drive to Carrara and go to the marble caves WOW! It isn't that far from Lucca.<BR>

cindy

Hi-<BR>We stayed in a villa near Lucca for 2 weeks in June. It is a beautiful town and I think you could easily spend a day there. Walk or bike around the walls, have a nice leisurely lunch, shop, visit the cathedral.. I would suggest a trip to the Cinque Terre-its a beautiful drive and you'll pass the Carrara marble mines on your way--the marble on the mountains looks like ski trails! You could drive to La Spezia and take the train from there, as we did. The train pass is good for 8 hours of use so you can train from town to town in the Cinque Terre if you don't feel like hiking the trails. Scenery is amazing. If you haven't been to Florence, definitely plan a day there too. Or Siena with a stop in Montereggioni on the way. I'm sorry I don't remember the restaurants we ate in in Lucca. In Florence we had dinner at the Giubbio Rossa, in the Piazza Republica. Very good, though probably too cool now to eat outside. Have a great time!

Myriam

We 'did' Pisa and Lucca on one day. Spent only 2 hours in Pisa and could have spent a couple more but we thought we would need all of our time in Lucca. So we drove further to Lucca and spent the rest of the day there, which was more than enough time. <BR>An idea for a light lunch in Lucca: Antico Caff&egrave; di Simo on Via Fillungo. The caff&egrave; dates back from 1846 and it preserves the original furnishings in liberty style. They pretend to be Puccini's favourite cafe. <BR>Re Tuscan countryside: in northern Tuscany (around Lucca/Pisa) the countryside is not as spectacularly beautiful as in southern Tuscany. Also you won't find any small hilltop cities there. I think the area north of Lucca, the Alpi Apuane, with a visit to Carrara, would make a nice daytrip. Another idea would be to visit the villas and gardens around Lucca (Villa Reale, Villa Torrigiani, Villa Mansi, ...).

bwikstrom

My husband and I stayed at La Boheme last month. Very nice, great staff and the rooms were true to their website. Lucca was a great 2 day/1 night stop, and there are many daytrips worth doing from Lucca. We had a great meal at Trattoria da Leo, which is right around the corner from La Boheme. Enjoy your week-end!

ellen

I can highly recommend Albergo San Martino. Was recently renovated when we were there two years ago. Modern rooms and good-sized baths. Staff was very helpful.

bill

hi. abergo san martino is a wonderful little hotel: very helpful staff; fresh, beautiful rooms; easy walk to any place in town and very close to the wall for strolling. pisa is an easy (30 min) drive. and the drive up to barga is exciting and very pretty. as is the old town of barga. beautiful views from the duomo.<BR><BR>as for eating in lucca try &quot;da guido&quot;. ask the staff at the hotel for directions. about a 15 min walk from albergo san martino. excellent food. as good as any in lucca but very laid back. lots of locals. have a great trip.