Lucca, Viareggio, Tuscany coast, Italy Lucca: hotels, attractions, history, guide & practicalities

Lucca Lucca is a city in Northern Tuscany, lies in the valley of the Serchio River and is almost surrounded by hills, with the Apuan Alps to the north.
It's a very old city of art of pre-Roman origin, later to become a Roman city, as many Italian cities are. Lucca's streets still follow the pattern of the ancient Lucca, Guinigi Tower Roman city. It's surrounded by huge, spectacular walls erected in the 16th and 17th centuries, still intact and solidly built.
The part of the town within the city walls, that people call "Lucca dentro" (Lucca within), is remarkably preserved from the Middle Ages, with little narrow streets of great charm. It contains beautiful old palaces and churches. The 11th century Duomo (which in Italian means cathedral), or San Martino (above right picture) is an outstanding example of the exuberant Pisan-Romanesque style.
Visit the Piazza del Mercato, built on the ancient Roman amphitheatre (above left picture), still retaining its arena shape. The archways around the piazza mark the points where animals and gladiators would once have entered the arena.
The modern part of town, outside the walls, named "Lucca fuori" (Lucca without), is sprawling over the surrounding countryside with rich villas and gardens. In Italian, villa doesn't mean what is normally meant in English, but a substantial residence which can go from rich abode to palatial style.

Many of the most beautiful villas in Italy are around Lucca, like the renowned Villa Mansi. They can be visited by the public like a museum or gallery...

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Lucca hotels & attractions

On this page go to:
Five stars & four stars hotels in Lucca
Three stars hotels in Lucca
Two stars hotels & Bed&Breakfasts in Lucca
Lucca & Italy hotels, flights, cars, rail reservations
Lucca: attractions, history, olive oil

Five stars & four stars hotels in Lucca

Locanda L'Elisa Hotel in Lucca Hotel Locanda L'Elisa is a five stars hotel at the foot of the hills surrounding Lucca, about 2 miles from Lucca city centre, and 10 miles from Pisa.
The hotel is a villa set in a large garden and dating back to the early 1800s.
The hotel, completely restored, has maintained the original decoration of the house, with 18th century furniture, and fabrics and carpets preserving the atmosphere of the old villa.
The hotel is fully air-conditioned, and has a bar and a restaurant.
The restaurant is situated in a Victorian-style conservatory surrounded by a luxuriant garden of bushes, flowers and aquatic plants, crossed by a burbling brook, with a large swimming-pool.
From the hotel it's easy to get to many parts of the extremely rich natural and artistic heritage of Tuscany, including, apart from Lucca, Pisa, Florence, the marble quarries of Apuane Alps, the green Garfagnana valley, Versilia fashionable seaside resorts, Siena, Volterra, San Gimignano, Montecatini Terme spa town, Chianti, the Lucca hills Medieval towns, and many more.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have been happy with this hotel, and have given it very high ratings. A guest's comment: "It's a pity that this wonderful place is a little bit close to a busy road."

General price range per room or suite
Single & double rooms: 100 - 250 euros
Suites: 200 - 400 euros

Website: Locanda L'Elisa Hotel in Lucca



Hotel Ilaria in Lucca Hotel Ilaria is the only four stars hotel in the historical centre of Lucca. So, if you want high levels of modern comfort in the middle of Medieval art treasures, this hotel is where you can find them.
The Medieval gate of San Gervasio, the centuries-old Park and Villa Buonvisi of the 16th century (now known as Villa Bottini) surround Hotel Ilaria, which was made out of the stables of the villa. The street where it stands, Via del Fosso, gets its name from the moat which protected Lucca city walls in the 13th century and still flows through the historical centre today.
Hotel Ilaria, served by a lift, has been completely renovated and offers a high standard of comfort.
Among its facilities are fax and e-mail services, use of bicycles free of charge, and a conference room.
Two large solarium terraces overlook the park that surrounds the hotel.
There are parking spaces and a private garage, with permission for hotel guests to enter Lucca historical centre by car.
Breakfast is self-service, with a wide selection of hot and cold dishes.
All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning and central heating individually regulated in each room, refrigerator, colour television, direct dial telephone (also for external calls), security box, hair dryer.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel very high ratings, with cleanliness of rooms and welcoming receiving top marks. A guest's review: "A lovely small hotel. I particularly liked the daytime free buffet in the breakfast area - do not make the mistake of using the Mini Bar when the same cold beer is available free downstairs ! It is quite difficult to drive into and although the hotel's own literature makes it quite clear how to do it, none of their literature was sent to us."

General price range per room
Single rooms: 100 - 130 euros
Double rooms: 150 - 200 euros

Website: Hotel Ilaria in Lucca



La Romea Residenza d'Epoca Hotel in Lucca Hotel La Romea Residenza d'Epoca is a four stars residence hotel in the heart of Lucca's city centre.
It's a typical example of historic residence, on the first floor of a late 14th century palace overlooking the square of the 12th century church of Sant'Andrea, the real geometric center of the city, 2 minutes' walk from Guinigi Tower and Piazza dell'Anfiteatro (Roman Amphitheatre), two major Lucca landmarks.
Because of its central location, La Romea is a short walk to all the attractions, including Via Fillungo, the street which cuts the city of Lucca exactly in half, and which is a stone's throw (20 metres) from the hotel, so much so that some hotel guest rooms have a view over it.
The hotel has an elegant hall, containing a book collection and art exhibits, overlooking the Church of Sant'Andrea.
Hotel facilities include tour organizations, baby sitting, dog sitting, transportation to and from airports.
Some guest rooms and bathrooms have frescoes from the 15th and 17th centuries and views of the church of Sant'Andrea.
La Romea has 4 double rooms and a suite, each with its own design.
All rooms and suite have en-suite bathrooms, direct telephone line, television and internet access. The suite, in addition, has a mini bar.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this property nothing but the very highest ratings on all aspects of their stay, including cleanliness of rooms, welcoming, spaciousness of rooms, noise level in rooms, public areas, competence of employees, quality of service provided, surroundings, and finally relationship between price and quality. Some guests' reviews: "I was impressed by the photographs featured on the website, but when we arrived they didn't do the hotel justice, it was even better than I could have imagined. My girlfriend fell in love with Lucca and the hotel. We will be going back." "Our stay at La Romea was just wonderful. Giulio and Gaia were very helpful and informative. Giulio actually met our car, loaded our luggage into his and showed us where to park. They were excellent hosts and we had the best breakfast in the two weeks we spent in Italy. Our location was just perfect because we were right next to Via Fillungo and the center of Lucca. I would certainly return to La Romea if I go back to Lucca." "Pretend you are at home at this wonderful spot - get the scoop on restaurants and sights, here in the middle of it all. And your hosts are the best. You'll hate to leave."

General price range per room or suite
Suites & double rooms: 120 - 150 euros

First website: La Romea Residenza d'Epoca Hotel in Lucca

Second website: La Romea Residenza d'Epoca Hotel in Lucca



Villa La Principessa Hotel in Lucca Villa La Principessa Hotel is a four stars hotel at the base of the hills surrounding Lucca, on which many parks and gardens jealously hide the austere architecture of the ancient homes of the most famous and illustrious families of Lucca.
Lucca's historical villas are among the most renowned in Italy: some, like Villa Mansi, are open to the public for visits.
Of all these villas, La Principessa claims to have the most distant origins: it was the home and court of Castruccio Castracani (1281 - 1328), Lord and Duke of Lucca, who according to tradition inspired Machiavelli as the model for the Ideal Prince.
Preserving the noble appearance of an ancient, aristocratic Lucca villa, La Principessa has been, since 1973, one of the most elegant hotels in Tuscany.
Amidst the discrete tranquility of this classical country residence, guests find all comforts and a quality service.
Outside, the formal park, with its great trees, provides an attractive setting for the solarium and swimming pool, quiet nooks for an open air lunch and other amusements.
The Hotel is entirely air conditioned and offers every comfort in its lounge, bar, and restaurant.
All 40 cosy rooms and suites have en-suite bathroom, telephone, cool drinks cabinet, satellite TV.
La Principessa is in an ideal position to visit the natural, historical and artistic heritage of every part of Tuscany, from the great cities of art to the quarries of Apuane Mountains, whose marble was used by Michaelangelo, from the country churches of the many hilltowns like Barga and Bagni di Lucca to the Chianti and the rivers Arno and Elsa valleys.

General price range per room or suite
Single rooms: 150 - 170 euros
Double rooms: 200 - 290 euros
Suites: 350 - 450 euros

Website: Villa La Principessa Hotel in Lucca



Albergo Celide Hotel is a four stars hotel in Lucca.

Website: Albergo Celide Hotel in Lucca



Grand Hotel Guinigi is a four stars hotel in Lucca.

Website: Grand Hotel Guinigi in Lucca


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Three stars hotels in Lucca

Hotel Da Carlos in Lucca Da Carlos Hotel, recommended for the quality of its service by the notable French guide book Le Routard, is a three stars hotel in an ideal location, in the countryside between Lucca and Pisa, two cities of art separated by only a few kilometers.
Set in a park in green and relaxing surroundings on the slopes of Lucca's hills, and yet within easy reach of both Lucca town center and Pisa, Da Carlos Hotel is serviced by a lift, has a 24 hours reception, a garage and a car park.
Its rooms are large, comfortable, well furnished, with plenty of light.
All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, telephones with a direct line, air conditioning and television.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel very high ratings on all aspects of their stay. Here are some guests' reviews: "We were very happy at this hotel and would consider staying there at next occasion." "Not only was the standard of the rooms and the service of a high quality, that attached restaurant was outstanding." "It was ideal and good value for money - better than I expected for the price quoted." "Enjoyed our stay at the DaCarlo. Were surprised to find it further out of Lucca than we expected but liked the neignborhood and it was not difficult to get into town. Friendly, helpful staff made our stay pleasant-would return and almost did on the same trip." "Nice hotel with nice restaurant. Air conditioning was very good. Close to Lucca and to Pisa." "Hotel Da Carlos was a very great experience. Perfect located between Lucca and Pisa, near to Viareggio and situated in a very quiet and peacefull environment. Service is perfect and everybody is so friendly and always ready to help or to share information. Hotel Da Carlos deserves a 10/10 ! Many greetings and go on like this !" "Very good hotel,and very nice restaurant. Our only complaint was lack of directions and when we arrived at night, and rang for directions noone could speak English. Apart from that, once we arrived it was lovely Excellent location Between Lucca and Pisa, about 5 Miles outside of the center of Lucca. Friendly staff, and excellent breakfast. I would stay there again."

General price range per room
Single, double & triple rooms: 70 - 110 euros

Website: Da Carlos Hotel in Lucca



Hotel Rex in Lucca Hotel Rex is a pleasant, modern three stars hotel near Lucca historical centre and close to the main railway station.
Serviced by a lift, the hotel has a private car park, a bar, air conditioning, disabled facilities.
Pick up at the station service is provided.
All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, direct-dial telephone, minisafe, fridge-bar, cable and satellite TV.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel very high ratings on all aspects of their stay. A guest's review sums it up: "This place is a gem. Perfectly situated across the street from entrance to the walls. Clean, comfortable, well furnished. The breakfast spread is fantastic. Highly recommended."

General price range per room
Single & double rooms: 80 - 120 euros
Triple & quadruple rooms: 150 - 210 euros

Website: Hotel Rex in Lucca



San Marco Hotel in Lucca San Marco Hotel is a three stars hotel few minutes from the historical centre of Lucca.
The hotel blends modern art with elegance and Italian style.
It's set in a beautiful and colourful garden, where guests can enjoy morning breakfast or appreciate a refreshing drink in a relaxed atmosphere.
Hotel facilities include lounge, lobby bar, garden, car parking, underground parking on request.
All its 42 cosy rooms have en-suite bathroom, direct-dial telephone, satellite TV, wire broadcasting, minibar.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel very high ratings on all aspects of their stay, and cleanliness of rooms, welcoming and noise level in rooms received the highest possible ratings.

General price range per room, including breakfast
Single & double rooms: 80 - 130 euros

Website: San Marco Hotel in Lucca



Hotel Universo is one of the historical landmarks of Lucca. Hotel Universo in Lucca
It was built in the 11th century, and stands in Piazza del Giglio, a square in the very centre of Lucca where the Teatro del Giglio, the city's main theater, is located.
The views from the hotel's 72 rooms are stunning: to the left, the monumental Duomo; to the right, the splendid Palazzo Ducale; right in front, across a small, leafy square, the Theatre.
Serviced by a lift, the hotel has air conditioning, a bar, congress facilities, pick up at the station service, a variety of large and small lounges, foyer, meeting rooms, restaurant.
The hotel's setting is sophisticated, its atmosphere elegant.
Among rooms amenities are TV, fridge, phone.

General price range per room or suite
Single & double rooms: 90 - 150 euros
Suites, triple, quadruple and 5-bed rooms: 150 - 240 euros

Website: Hotel Universo in Lucca



Le Cerbaie Hotel in Lucca Hotel Le Cerbaie is a three stars hotel in Altopascio, a town between Lucca and Montecatini Terme renowned for its delicious bread, il "pane d'Altopascio". The hotel is in an excellent location for travellers who want to explore Tuscany and its many artistic cities and towns. It's situated near the entrance to the motorway Firenze-Mare (A11) , which connects Florence to the seaside, providing an easy access not only to Florence, but also to Pisa, Lucca, Pistoia, the fashionable spa resort of Montecatini, Viareggio in the Versilia Riviera, the Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast, and other places: an ideal starting point for many tours.
Le Cerbaie Hotel is a modern building, with every kind of comforts and amenities. It has a large car park, 24 hour reception service, TV lounge, 24-hour bar, 24-hour fax service, breakfast room and buffet, air conditioning, restaurant-pizzeria, two lifts.
The service is friendly and efficient.
All rooms all have en-suite bathrooms, adjustable air conditioning, desk, satellite colour TV, minibar, hairdryer, telephone with external line, indipendent alarm service; all rooms are carpeted.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel extremely high ratings on all aspects of their stay, and cleanliness of rooms, welcoming, spaciousness of rooms, public areas, competence of employees, quality of service provided, and finally relationship between price and quality received the highest possible ratings.

General price range per room
Single rooms: 60 euros
Double rooms: 85 euros
Triple rooms: 95 euros

Website: Le Cerbaie Hotel in Altopascio, Lucca



Palazzo Alexander is an elegant, luxurious, yet good value residence in the heart of Lucca's historical centre.
The décor of the residence reflects the noble Lucchese style, with antique wood floors in all the bedrooms, and fine marble and other local stones in the bathrooms, lobby and common rooms.
The entrance hall, breakfast room, bar and lobby are tastefully decorated with fine fixtures and upholstery in elegant pastel hues.
There are car parking facilities. Breakfast, a buffet of fresh, local products, is presented in harmonious style and elegance with services of fine silver, crystal and porcelain.
The residence has four floors of rooms and apartments, all with modern, en-suite bathrooms, and some with whirlpool baths.
All rooms have satellite television, telephones, hairdryers and computer hook-ups.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this property the very highest ratings on all aspects of their stay, including cleanliness of rooms, welcoming, spaciousness of rooms, noise level in rooms, public areas, competence of employees, quality of service provided, surroundings, and finally relationship between price and quality. A guest's review: "I thought I was staying in a 5 star hotel! The staff was exceptionally warm, friendly, knowledgable (great restaurant recommendations!). The room was lovely and the fresh fruit left in the room each day made me feel very special. The breakfast was delicious and professionally served. This hotel will also be on my all time best hotels list and I will recommend it highly to everybody."

Double rooms single use: 80 - 110 euros
Double rooms: 120 - 160 euros

Website: Palazzo Alexander Hotel in Lucca



San Martino Hotel is a three stars hotel in Lucca.
Hotel facilities include safe, fax service, car park, bicycle rental.
All rooms and suites have en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, central heating, phone, satellite TV, fridge.
2 single rooms have disabled facilities.

Double rooms: 104 euros
Suites & triple rooms: 155 euros

Website: San Martino Hotel in Lucca



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Two stars hotels and Bed & Breakfasts in Lucca

Giada Palace Residence Hotel in Lucca Hotel Giada Palace is a two stars residence hotel few minutes from the historical centre of Lucca, about 1 mile to the city walls.
It's a modern residence in a quiet place. A city-shuttle service is available to take guests to the city centre, to supermarkets and to an olympic-size swimming-pool, which is a few yards from the residence.
Giada Palace has a car park, garages, a garden with solarium, TV lounge, breakfast room and buffet.
The residence has both apartments and bedrooms.
Apartments can sleep 5, 6 or 8 people and have private bathroom and kitchen.
All bedrooms have telephone, colour satellite TV, mini-bar.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this property very high ratings on all aspects of their stay, and cleanliness of rooms, welcoming, spaciousness of rooms, public areas, competence of employees and quality of service provided received the highest possible ratings.

General price range per room or apartment
Single & double rooms, including breakfast: 50 - 70 euros
Apartments (sleeping 5 - 8 people): 150 - 180 euros

Website: Giada Palace Residence Hotel in Lucca



Bed & Breakfast Sogni D'oro Hotel in Lucca Bed & Breakfast Sogni D'oro is a pleasant B&B few minutes from the walled city centre of Lucca and close to Lucca's main railway station.
Surrounded by its own garden, it has a secure garage to store bicycles and motorbikes and a fully equipped kitchen available to guests.
Some rooms have en-suite bathroom; some rooms have private balcony.
Overall opinion. Guests have generally been happy with this B&B, and given it high ratings on competence of employees, welcoming and relationship between price and quality.

General price range per room
Double & triple rooms: 40 - 70 euros

Website: Bed & Breakfast Sogni D'oro in Lucca



Diana Hotel in Lucca Diana Hotel is in the heart of Lucca, few yards to the Cathedral of S. Martino, 5 minutes' walk to the railway station.
Although located in the historical centre, Diana is accessible by car, which can be parked in the area reserved for the hotel or in the nearby car parks. The hotel has also agreed with taxis special rates for its guests.
A fax and Internet service is available at reception.
Rooms have air conditioning, soundproofing, modem point, electronic lock, satellite colour TV, direct dial telephone, safe, hairdryer.
Some rooms have en-suite bathroom.
Two rooms (one single and one double) have facilities for the disabled and the elderly.
The hotel has a new annexe, in an old building renovated using typically Tuscan materials: terracotta, stone and marble. The annexe has a restful, elegant ambience and more comfortable accommodation, while its furniture and furnishings are all in traditional Lucchese style. Special attention has been given to the bathrooms with their Carrara marble tiles and accessories.
Minimum stay is 2 nights.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this hotel high ratings on all aspects of their stay. Here are some guests' reviews which well represent the general feeling: "The Hotel Diana is a small friendly hotel within easy reach of the rail station. The welcome was warm and efficient. On arrival we were given a map of Lucca with our keys and the position of the hotel was pointed out and marked. There are no breakfast facilities and no bar or public area - this hotel is accomodation only. The room was compact but satisfactory, furniture basic. A little noisy early in the morning as the cleaning crew begin work around the rooms, otherwise quiet and pleasant. We were most impressed by the willingness of staff to assist with any request (and especially with being able to leave our luggage with them on our departure day until early evening)." "The hotel is excellent quality and value. We had an en-suite room and the bathroom facilities were above two-star standard. The hotel is probably worth three stars but loses one because it does not offer breakfast. However, in Italy, hotel breakfast is seldom substantial or worth the price. It is more enjoyable to take it in a nearby coffee bar, of which there are many close to hotel Diana. The noise factor arises because the hotel makes up only a part of the building. The remainder is occupied by people living in apartments upstairs. We could hear them leaving for work in the mornings but generally this was not very early. It added colour to the Italian experience. I am not sure whether the proprietors speak languages other than Italian. As I speak their language, I had no problems." "Location is ideal for train travellers : near the railway station and within the walls of the city of Lucca." "The Hotel Diana is perfectly located for exploring Lucca by foot."

General price range per room
Single rooms: 40 - 70 euros
Double rooms: 60 - 100 euros

Website: Diana Hotel in Lucca



Bed & Breakfast Turendo is a B&B a few minutes from the historical city centre of Lucca, not far from the entrance to the A11, the motorway connecting Lucca to Florence and the sea.
Rooms have the comforts of a hotel at the cost of a rented room: rooms for rent, with TV, fridge, microwave oven, balcony, lift.
Overall opinion. People who stayed here have given this B&B high ratings on all aspects of their stay, and cleanliness of rooms, welcoming, spaciousness of rooms received the highest ratings. A guest's review sums it up: "Overall a nice place for a good deal!"

Single rooms: 40 - 50 euros
Double & twin rooms: 50 - 60 euros

Website: Bed & Breakfast Turendo in Lucca



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Lucca & Italy hotels, flights, cars, rail reservations

To find and book accommodation in Lucca and the rest of Italy,, the cheapest and least time-consuming way is by doing it via the internet.
Here below are some of the best online reservations services with hotels & other accommodation in Lucca and Italy, which often have arranged special rates and discounts.

In addition, you can search for hotels and other accommodation in Lucca matching your search criteria and check availability directly from here.
Here, at the top of the right column of this page, we have provided a search box for Lucca hotels, B&Bs, residences, town house suites and other accommodation.

Venere
Venere - Hotels in Italy
Venere list of Lucca hotels

Italian Tourist Web Guide
Italian Tourist Web Guide

Hotels Italy - Hotels Central
HotelsItaly - HotelsCentral - discounted hotel reservations




Other travel services:

111 Travel Directory has a lot of information on Italy. The section "Tips 4 Trips", with advice from other travellers, is interesting.
111 Travel Directory - Cruises, romantic getaways, country inns, boutique hotels, discount airfares, car rentals, vacation packages, European rail passes, plus travel advice.



Kelkoo is a shopping search engine to compare prices from hundreds of sites to find the best prices when shopping online.
Kelkoo helps you to compare prices for different types of services and products, including travel, flights, hotels, car hire, accommodation of all kinds, last minute holidays, weekend breaks, travel agents, and every other travel needs.
Kelkoo



North American residents can find information and the facility to book rail tickets and Passes in Italy when they visit Rail Europe .
They are the specialists on rail travel in Europe, and you can both buy rail point-to-point tickets online for single journeys from one destination to another in Italy and Europe, and buy Italian and European Rail Passes online.
On Rail Europe you'll also find plenty of information about timetables, prices and other practicalities of Italian and European rail services:
Rail Europe



Expedia is a comprehensive travel site for all sorts of needs, from flights to hotels, from car rentals to holiday packages, from holiday deals to guides and insurance.
Expedia



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Apartment by the sandy beach in the centre of Viareggio, Tuscany coast, 12 miles from Lucca

Viareggio, Tuscany coast, Italy


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Viareggio, Tuscany coast, Italy

Apartment by the sandy beach in the very centre of Viareggio, Tuscany coast, 12 miles from Lucca

You can rent the Giardini del Mare Apartment, pictured here, for your holiday in Viareggio, between Cinque Terre & Pisa, near Florence & Lucca, in the Versilia Riviera, at the foot of Apuane Alps, surrounded by pine woods, near the prestigious yacht harbour.
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It's a 3-bedroomed apartment sleeping 4 people in an excellent, prime location, few yards from the main beach, right in the very centre of town. It is on the second floor of a 3-floor building, overlooking the leafy gardens of a delightful square, Piazza D'Azeglio.

Viareggio Giardini del Mare self-catering accommodation - the exterior

On the other side of the tree-lined square is the seafront of Viareggio, with its promenade of fashionable shops, bars and restaurants. Two minutes' walk from the flat is the prestigious Viareggio yacht harbour, where the ultra-rich keep their leisure boats, with its many yachting clubs.

The apartment comprises: dining room, fully equipped kitchen, small rear balcony with an extra sink, 1 twin bedroom, 2 single bedrooms, complete bathroom, front balcony directly overlooking the gardens of Piazza D'Azeglio. It's not new but it's comfortable. You can see above the building's exterior seen from the square.

Viareggio Giardini del Mare holiday flat - balcony


Facilities include TV, washing machine, fully equipped kitchen with cooker, fridge, pots and dishes.

The added bonus of the apartment's location in Piazza D'Azeglio is that in the square is the coach station for departures to the main cities of Tuscany.
You step out of the flat and two minutes later you can catch the coach to Florence (90 minutes by coach, 1 hour by car), Pisa (20-30 minutes), Lucca (20-30 minutes), Torre del Lago Puccini with its lake, the villa where Puccini lived & the Puccini opera festival (10 minutes), & other cities of art.

The apartment can be rented weekly from Saturday to Saturday.

Short breaks, long-term lettings and other arrangements are also available on request.

Prices
June & September: 800 euros per week
July & August: 1,000 euros per week
Other months: 600 euros per week
Included in the rental price are bedlinen, towels, all bills (electricity etc).

Last minute discounts are available.


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Lucca

Lucca is a city in Northern Tuscany, Italy. It's a big town of about 80,000 inhabitants, and the capital of Lucca provincia. It lies in the valley of the Serchio River and is almost surrounded by hills, with the Apuan Alps to the north and west.
It's a very old city of art of pre-Roman origin, later to become a Roman city, as many Italian cities are. Lucca was founded in 180 BC, and its streets still follow the pattern of the ancient Roman city. It's surrounded by huge, spectacular walls erected in the 16th and 17 centuries, still intact and solidly built.
The part of the town within the city walls, that people call "Lucca dentro" (Lucca within), is remarkably preserved from the Middle Ages, with little narrow streets of great charm. It contains beautiful old palaces and churches. Of particular note is Lucca's 11th century Duomo (which in Italian means cathedral), or San Martino, one outstanding example of the exuberant Pisan-Romanesque style. Another major church is San Michele, like San Martino set in a square by the same name.
One of the most interesting sites is the Piazza del Mercato, built on the ancient Roman amphitheater, and still retaining its arena shape. The archways around the piazza mark the points where animals and gladiators would once have entered the arena.

The modern part of town, outside the walls, is aptly named "Lucca fuori" (Lucca without), and is sprawling all over the surrounding countryside with rich villas and gardens. In fact, many of the most beautiful villas in Italy are around Lucca, like the renowned Villa Mansi. They can be visited by the public like a museum or gallery. In Italian, villa doesn't mean what is normally meant in English, but a substantial residence which can go from rich abode to palatial style.


ITS HISTORY

Lucca was a Ligurian and later an Etruscan town, and the Romans probably established a colony there in 180 BC (mentioned by the Roman historian Livy). Its Latin name is Luca.

The rectangular Roman plan is preserved in Lucca's central streets, and remains of the walls, forum, and amphitheatre have been found. Lying at the junction of roads to Parma, Florence, Rome, Pisa, and Luni, the town was apparently fairly prosperous and was an early episcopal see.

The Goths and the Longobards chose Lucca as the capital of Tuscany, an honour which was transferred to Florence during the times of the Carolingi.
After AD 476, Lucca was ruled successively by the Goths, the Byzantines, and the Lombards (a Gothic people whose ancient name was Longobards), becoming the residence of one of the three Lombard dukes in Tuscany.
Frankish counts replaced the dukes after 774, but the population appears to have remained largely Lombardian. Lucca was the principal city in Tuscany in the 9th and 10th centuries, when its counts became the margraves of Tuscany, and it commanded one of the principal roads between Lombardy and Rome, the Via Francigena. The city began to lose importance in the late 10th century to Florence, which replaced Lucca as the Tuscan capital when the house of Canossa succeeded to the margravate.

In 1118 the town was granted a charter of liberties, mainly economic, and the commune of Lucca was probably established soon afterward. Like Florence and many other cities of Northern Italy, Lucca was a republic in its own right during the Renaissance. Despite numerous conflicts with its powerful neighbours and ambitious noble houses, Lucca largely maintained its independence until it fell to the French in 1799.

From 1805 until 1814, Lucca was ruled as a principality by Élisa Baciocchi, a sister of Napoleon. Assigned by the Congress of Vienna (1815) to the Spanish infanta María Luisa, widow of the former king Louis of Etruria, it passed in 1824 to her son Charles Louis, who ceded it to Tuscany in 1847. When Italy was unified and became independent from foreign domination in 1861, Lucca was part of the kingdom.


ITS ATTRACTIONS

Many of the archiepiscopal city's numerous churches follow, with their own local variations, a distinctive style found in nearby Pisa; often basilican or Romanesque in structure, many have rich Gothic exterior decorations and some have quadrangular campaniles.
Particularly notable are the Cathedral of San Martino (probably founded in the 6th century; rebuilt 1060-70; completed 13th-14th century); San Frediano (rebuilt 1112-47), retaining traces of an 8th-century structure; San Michele in Foro (begun 1143); and Santa Maria Forisportam, begun in the 13th century. Lucca is noted for its well-preserved ramparts (1561-1650) and has many fine 16th-century palaces, notably the Palazzo Pretorio and the Palazzo della Prefettura, the former grand ducal palace, now housing the National Art Gallery.
There are several other art collections, libraries, and archives.

Lucca, long an important musical centre, was the home of the composers Luigi Boccherini and Giacomo Puccini. The latter, author of "La Boheme", "Madame Butterfly" and many other operas, was born in Lucca, and his house can still be seen.

A road and rail centre, the city is the market town of a rich agricultural region that exports high-quality olive oil. Silk has been manufactured since about the end of the 11th century. Other industries include flour milling and the production of tobacco, paper, textiles, jute goods, and wine. The Serchio is used for waterpower, and an aqueduct (1823-32) carries the water supply from the Pisan mountains.

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The olive oil of Lucca

One of the specialities of Lucca is the production of its olive oil, considered one of the best by Italians. The olive groves that provide its source grow on the hills of the whole province of Lucca, and the oil is manufactured by several companies in the town itself: Dante and Bertolli are the best known brand names.

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