Autumn trip to Tuscany

Matthew Morgan on 09 December 2018
In October 2018 I spent seven nights in the beautiful Italian region of Tuscany, famous for its history and of course it’s food and wine. I love Italy and have been to lots of different areas but Tuscany to me epitomises all things that are great about the country.

Getting there

There are lots of regional flights now to both Pisa and Florence mainly throughout summer. This was for a special occasion, so we travelled Business Class with BA which I’d highly recommend. The BA lounge, extra space onboard and the great food and wine served really made the start of the trip special.

Where did I stay?

My very favourite place in Tuscany is the walled City of Lucca, just East of Pisa. There we stayed in the lovely 4* Hotel Ilaria which is inside the city walls. The staff here were so friendly and extra touches like the free Prosecco, beer and afternoon snacks between 5-6 were a great touch! You can walk out of the hotel and you’re in the heart of Lucca so it’s a great location, especially if you are only visiting for a few days. At night it means your hotel isn’t too far away either to wonder back to after some fine Italian wine!

Why Lucca?

I’ve been to many parts of Tuscany as my parents have had a house here for over 15 years; but out of all the sightseeing, Lucca has always been the favourite for most of the family. Outside of the walls, it is a bustling Italian city. Inside, you are transported to the Italy we see in movies or on postcards. A walk around the city walls is a must and takes under an hour; you can drop in and out of the city at any point if something takes your fancy. The streets are mostly pedestrianized, so you can just wander at your own pace. Hiring bikes is common and fun, it’s a quicker way to get around and most residents use them.

Getting Around

I could stay in Lucca and not leave for three or four nights but if you want to get out and about, most major Italian cities connect through Lucca, so you can usually get a direct train. We visited Florence for the day; the train was every hour and it took just over an hour to get there, costing €13 per person per way. Train travel in Italy is easy and the best way to see the major towns and cities. Hiring a car is also straightforward but beware of the Italian drivers, the Highway Code doesn’t seem to exist here!

Eating and Drinking

Being honest, this is the highlight of any Italian holiday and Lucca doesn’t disappoint when it comes to great food and wine. ‘Buca S.Antonio’ is my absolute favourite; the service is brilliant and the little extras you get free of charge really make it special. Of course, the food is fantastic too, but I’d make a reservation before you travel as it’s very popular. If you like ice-cream, then it doesn’t get much better than ‘I Gelati di Piero’ – reasonably priced and just irresistible.

Lucca is surrounded by some of the best wine regions in Italy, so it would be rude not to venture out and visit some of the vineyards. If you are travelling in a group, then some of the vineyards will come and collect you from Lucca free of charge; otherwise you can drive or grab a taxi. There are some great wine stores in the city and if you’d rather not visit the vineyard, they do wine tasting here and have great knowledge on the local produce. Aside from the wine, Lucca has lots of speciality Chocolate and food deli’s which make great gifts for people back home.

In summary…

A relaxing Italian break with opportunity to visit other cities and towns with great train connections. Lucca is somewhere I’m sure after you visit you will want to return and will make you fall in love with Italy.