Lucca stopover from Venice to Amalfi Coast
 

Was initially going to fly from Venice to Naples. Am now considering training it, and stopping in Lucca to break up the trip. It's also a locale that I've thought of visiting for some time. Worth the trip/ hassle factor? Thank you.

Lucca is one of my favotite small cities in Italy - I actually enjoy it more than Siena! The walls are so beautiful to walk upon, looking into the gardens of the lovely homes below, including those of the Palazzo Pfanner. The Palazzo Mansi is quite impressive inside, though the exterior is understated. I've had very good meals in Lucca - simple, but delicious food in family run trattorias. It is nice to stay overnight and have the place to yourself after the daytrippers have left.<BR><BR>I took the train from Napoli to Florence, bus Florence to Lucca, and train from Lucca to Venice on my last Italy trip, and found all transportation easily manageable.

I thought Lucca was disappointing.

Hi Fremont,<BR> If your destination is the Amalfi Coast, you needn't go through Naples.<BR> There is a direct night train from Venice SL to Salerno that leaves at 18:46.<BR> see www.trenitalia.com

Lucca is off the path for that route. I would stop in Orvieto instead.

Great tips, thanks! Now I'm reeeeaaaaly confused!

Lucca is off the beaten path for your planned route but can be done by train easily enough if you rally want to see it. I was there twice in november and I loved it, it is true that the food in small towns is better than the large over touristy cities where it is prepared and then left sitting all day and heated in a microwave in a lot of instances. Anyway, I digress. I would suggest San Gimignano instead, you can stop there on your way south and the countryside is glorious. Go to Poggibonsi by train and then the bus leaves regularly to go up the hill to San Gim. A 15 minute trip.