Lucca - Fun Stuff for teen agers and their parents
 

We are staying at a beautiful villa on the hillside near Lucca with our kids and their kids for 2 weeks...grand kids range in age from 10 - 19 one of whom is a 16 year old boy. None have been to Italy. I'm becoming very nervous about helping them (kids and grandkids) discover Italy in a way that is exciting and fun and lives up to everything I've been telling them! The difficult part is that we have to be there because of the kids school schedules during the heat and tourist times...Florence, could be a disaster for those who don't like CROWDS. I'd love to hear any and all idea re. where in that area we might visit, great places to walk/hike, beaches and, of course restaurants.
Thanks in advance to all who respond here! Giannetta

Well, it is an easy trip to Pisa -- besides the obvious (get tickets to climb the tower), they might enjoy walking the arcaded shops in the area near the university.

The Leonardo da Vinci museum, in Vinci (between Pisa and Florence), is also great for kids to visit. They have made working models of all the contraptions in da Vinci's sketchbooks -- and visitors can turn the cranks and pull the ropes to make things go. There is a nice walk from the museum (on a hilltop with great views) to da Vinci's birthplace, through vineyards.

And you might be able to make a nice trip to, say, Forte dei Marmi, and visit the seashore --cruise the gelati shops and walk out on the pier for a nice view.

Perfect suggestions - exactly what I need. Thank you!

Lucca has city walls that are still standing and are quite broad. When we were there we rented bikes and rode the walls. It was fun and something everyone could enjoy.

Out near the coast is a small town called Sarzana that has the ruins of a castello on the hill above the town. It's fun to go up there and explore, andthen go down into the small piazza at the Duomo (I recall there were signs pointing to it and Il Centro). As you face the Duomo there is a narrow street on the left running along the side of the church. there is a restaurant there that is very nice and friendly. they have some regional specialties that were quite good. And in the piazza is a very good bakery where my grandchildren got some great cookies.

It's quite a drive from Lucca but the beach and nature park at Marina Di Alberese are beautiful.

There is a stunning, huge canopy of pines that gives off strange green hues and the beach is full of fallen sea washed pines. Its all a bit pre-historic.

To really get away from the crowds you could take a day ferry to Elba - its beautiful and theres a good chance of seeing whales - the Ligurian Sea is full of life. There are trips from Livorno.

If you don't like crowds - avoid Lucca on Friday/Saturday nights. The streets are far narrower than Florence. We were there in September last - the number of those par-taking in the passeggiata was ridiculous.

ps I would second the cycle round Lucca's walls - it has to be the only way to escape the madness of any Italian city.

We went to Cinque Terra for the day from Lucca. Was very easy.. lots of hiking great for the kids.. right along the coast...

bookmarking

Just to second the Forte Dei Marmi recomendation, we spent 3 weeks there with my teenagers several summers ago. Make sure to visit the day of the outdoor market if you have any teenage girls (and moms!)-the shopping is really great! There is a public access for the beach as well so the boys would really enjoy that.

My teenagers really loved Florence-we were there at the same time and the crowds did not bother us. We did a private one day cooking school with Divina Cucina which they loved as we went into the Central Market for our food products and then the kids actually prepared the food.

Collodi, a small town perched high above Lucca is Pinnochio's town - where he sprang to life i guess and Pinnochio still rules here.

PalenQ-- what is in Collodi to see? Is there Pinocchio's, "house" or a museum? Worth it? We too will be in Lucca with kids but only a short time.

That i don't know but when a the wife of a friend was planning her trip to Italy she centered it around going to Collodi just because of the Pinnochio thing - think it's the usual old Italian village with a lot of wood carved pinnochio stuff on sale, being carved but not really sure

just thot that it could be fun for the younger kids and older adults but not sure

There is a park with statues of various characters in the Pinnochio story. You can find pictures of Pinnochio Park on the web.

I second the bike riding and take the train to Cinque Terre. You can find lots of information on the different trails (walk the easy one between towns or venture further) We were in Lucca last year in June and while it was very warm and crowded, getting away to the coast is rejuvenating.

ciaodeb:

We have been to Collodi and "Pinocchio Park". The park is really geared for very young children with murals and metal sculptures of the characters in Pinocchio as well as a mechanical theatre. Its very old-fashioned, no rides, just a place to relive the tale. My son, who was 5 at that time, enjoyed it very much. I remember there is either the artist's house or Pinocchio's creator house before the entrance to the park.No museum though.

However, across the park, you can find Villa Garzoni with its magnificent gardens. You might enjoy that!

Thank you for the Collodi information. My kids are older, daugher 15 and son 12. Maybe bike ride on wall would be very interesting. Do you get bikes at a place in Lucca or your hotel? We'll see how time goes.

For adults a visit to near Montecatini-Terme, one of Europe's fanciest grandest oldtime spas may be in order - or even for teens to see this weird type of place - several separate ornate thermal houses in a parklike setting - gal teens may like a mud facial? Older adults may need one?

sans car a short train hop away

Yes, I know they are there the famous spas and it would be nice to stop in on way from Lucca to Florence. Since we have only ONE day in Florence we'd have to leave Lucca early to go to the Montecatini-Terme. I hate to rush a visit but do you think a facial mask can be done w/in an hour? I will be with my husband and 12 year old son. My 15 year old daughter would love it as I would too! We then go to Florence for night and leave after check out next day!

Avremo una macchina-- We will have a car!