Lucca is a small provincial town rich in history, tradition and culture, but also a place of interest for high quality tourism.
Tourism in Tuscany means Florence and its beauties, the Chianti area, Siena and Piazza del Campo, Pisa and the leaning tower, San Gimignano and Lucca, which is beautifully located among hills and country between the sea and the mountains.
The town of Lucca is not far from Viareggio and its Carnival, from Forte dei Marmi, a well-known sea resort, from Torre del Lago, where the Puccini Opera Festival takes place every summer, from the Garfagnana area, with its high mountains and its typical products, ( such as spelt) and from the marble quarries in the Apuan Alps. Lucca is unique for its intact sixteenth century walls, surrounding the historical centre, isolating it from the modern suburbs, so that walking along its narrow streets, (now pedestrian precinct) you forget about time, living in a slower and more human atmosphere.
Many are the monuments, elegant palaces, churches and squares that make this town so beautiful: the Guinigi tower, the Anfitheatre, the Holy Cross in the cathedral of San Martino, the National Museum of Palazzo Mansi...but not only in the historical centre.
In the surrounding hills you can visit old villas, with their rich and noble past, and old farmhouses, where very good wine and extra-vergin olive oil are produced. A place of art and culture, Lucca is the birthplace of great musicians and composers such as Boccherini, Luporini and Catalani, but the most famous without doubt, is Giacomo Puccini, who composed operas like La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, Turandot ect.. He was born in the very heart of Lucca, in Corte San Lorenzo, where it is possible to visit his home, now a museum.
A city of bankers and of silk and jewel merchants in the Middle Ages, today Lucca is a place for commerce, shopping and markets ( like the well known Antique market every third Sunday of the month) which can offer to the increasing tourism good services and accommodation facilities, including hotels, B&B, guest rooms, restaurants, cafes and cultural events, providing comfortable accommodation and a slow-pace life style with walking and biking tours in a relaxing alternative to hective modern living.