We spent an afternoon in Lucca in September, 2012. Took the train from Florence, the ride was about an hour and a half. We didn't really explore but didn't see much. Actually, we were a little disappointed because we heard so much about Lucca. Planning to return to Florence in the spring and to Lucca. Want to spend more time and would like to know what to see and do there, or its outskirts. Grazie.

While not surrounded by a wall, Pistoia's center is as interesting as Lucca's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/5936373712/

Did you ride bikes on the city walls? We enjoyed four days in Lucca.

We spent one day in Lucca wandering around and loved it. We spent a few hours riding bikes on the city walls. This is one of our best memories of Europe. We would love to return to Lucca one day and spend more time.

We stayed 3 nights, one day wandering the town and bike riding the wall, then another day was a long daytrip to the CT. I think it would be a nice location if you had a rental car to explore the countryside from there. You could also daytrip to Florence. There are ALOT of shops! really an amazing amount for a rather small city / town and several churches and restored homes some with a tower or gardens.

Thanks, Michael. Thinking of doing an overnight in Pistoia in March. Think you've sold me.

Back to Lucca -

I, too, found Lucca a disappointment. And there are lots of better alternatives near Florence imho.

I've enjoyed wandering the back streets of Pisa (the university area, the arcaded shops, along the river), more than Lucca. We also enjoyed a day in Vinci, at the Leonardo museum and walking through the vineyards. And a visit to Forte de Marmi, a nice town on the water. And there are plenty of lovely towns south of Florence.

Spent two nights in Lucca, including a day long annual religious festival in September. the festival was fun with marching bands a religious procession and many food vendors. One day would have been enough without the festival.

Holly_uncasdewar,

If traveling by car, consider dinner here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...aten-track.cfm

I'll be training. Got any in-town recs for dinner on a Monday night?

I can't give recommendations for eating in Pistoia, as I was fed by relatives.

Michael, sorry to admit that I have never heard of Pistoia, but what a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing those great pics. The art/architecture is fabulous.

We trained from Florence to Lucca stopping in a little-known back station in Pisa a couple of minutes from the Tower.

We spent most of the afternoon in Lucca and enjoyed it.

Wandered thru the town. When we got to the other side we rented bikes and rode around the town on the wall. We stopped for a picnic on the wall. Then wandered some more and headed for the sunset in CT.

Definitely a nice stop.

Apart from just wandering and shopping, there are two or three towers to climb for views, you can ride out along the river as well as around the walls, a number of churches to visit, the ex-amphitheatre, probably museums although I didn't visit any. You can also take a bus to the hills behind Lucca and hike or visit smaller towns. Wine bars and restaurants were good.