LUCCA, ITALY

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A 5 hour drive from Steyr to Trento in the Italian Alps, Dolomites as they are known, Trento was truly a lovely surprise, we picked it because it was just over the halfway mark down to Lucca, we were so glad we picked it! Our hotel was magnificent and a moderate price really and another historic place surrounded by the magnificant mountains. Our drive through the Brenner pass was so scenic, we just loved it! Mark's friend in Steyr said, don't be surprised if it snows going through the pass, but the day ended up being magnificent and the sun was shining warm and strong....arriving in Trento it was 28 degrees, couldn't believe it , thought we would have had to break out the woollies but not to be! Took a walk around town and had a nice cold beer and then for dinner...then back to the hotel and decided to sit up on the 7th floor terrace and have a night cap, it was beautiful watching all the goings on from up there and saw there was a cable car going up the mountain from town...so thats the plan for the morning to ride that damn thing up the mountain! Saw a lot of Africans here and quite a few drug deals taking place which is so disturbing in these beautiful parts of the world! Up early for breaky in the dining room and then headed to take our ride up in the cable car....what a fabulous view that was from right up the top overlooking the huge valley and the town of Trento. Three and half hour drive down to Lucca where we met Gabriella our host, we are renting her apartment in the walled city, a very old historical building right in the middle of town, had to park our car outside the walls but she could drive the luggage in with her little car. Gabriella is an architect and her apartment is very tastefully decorated, spotlessly clean and quite huge with everything we need with little restaurants and shops all within a minutes walk, great area! She even left us a bottle of wine which was a lovely gesture and the apartment is so well equipped, salt, pepper and loads of grocery items, washing powders etc, decent toaster (which have had some rippers), coffee makers and coffee! if anyone is ever coming to Lucca, it is Tosca apartment on AirBNB, highly recommend! Went to another great place for lunch Da Giulio, fantastic food from the Lucca region and not so much a tourist haunt, 3 meals and a bottle of red and water came to 35 euro, some places are very cheap and that has surprised us about Italy it is not that expensive! After lunch embarked on a walking tour of Lucca which was a great introduction to Lucca, ending at the Duomo. We love all the meandering lanes and streets within the walled city, there is so much to see and do without even going outside. Great to have an apartment again after a few days in hotels, catch up on washing and ironing and able to do our own breaky. Saturday did a whole circuit walk around the wall, there is a walking/cycling track on top of the wall, at the base of the wall it is 30 metres, so there is plenty of room to walk. It really is such a pretty place and if you are into shopping has some great shops, our guide from the other day told us about an Italian guy who makes comfy shoes and he has a sale on, so that was a stop after lunch to pick up a comfy pair of sandals. They are brilliant and only were 49 Euro. Went to a posher place for dinner last night Buca di Sant'Antonio, it was delicious, were given a freeby glass of their sparkling plus a tapas plate of cod balls and pork/beef ones, great quality food, lamb cutlets, goat and a porcini risotto were all immensely enjoyed! All washed down with a couple of bottles of local Sangiovese. Our last day here tomorrow and we are going to do a hike of the Cinque Terra then head down towards Rome Monday for a night before flying out. Sunday dinner back at Da Guilio, John is hooked on the gnocchi gorgonzola, so this will be the third time we have eaten here - great place for our farwell dinner in Lucca. Lucca we will miss you until we meet again! xx Monday off to Rome via Pisa to see the leaning tower and then onto Volterra for lunch at a family run farm where we visited three years ago. They were so glad to see us. Arrived in Rome around 6.30p.m. and spending our last day in Fiumucino one block back from the beach...great spot!

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Photos

TRATTORIA DA UBALDO
Wonderful antipasta plate - everything here tastes delicious!

LUCCA
The google maps car in town!

LUCCA
Entrance to Tosca Apartment

LUCCA
One of many beautiful churches

LUCCA
Paper comp in town - all different creations in the squares

PAPER FEST
Another creation

LUCCA
Walls of the old amphitheatre

LUCCA
The tower

LUCCA
Main cathedral

MAIN CATHEDRAL
Beautiful ceilings

LUCCA
Streetscape

LUCCA
Outside our apartment

LUCCA
Walking the wall

LUCCA
Walking the wall

LUCCA
Such pretty sites everywhere

LUCCA
One of the entrance gates

LUCCA
One of our fave restaurants

LUCCA
Rooftops

LUCCA
From the top of the tower

LUCCA
from the tower

LUCCA
Music fest in the amphitheatre

Comments

[Lorraine rodger]

Finally home
We need you as a travel guide. Have been trying to work out our trip to Europe looks all to hard. Can't wait to see you both. You seen to Akers it look so easy. Love lorraine

[John and Gloria Travels]

WESTBURYS
Lorraine, be lovely to catch up when we get and delighted to give you any hints, if it helps at all. All I can say is decide what you really want to do and research, research!! Will give you a buzz when we get back and make a catch up soon. Glor xx

[Norma]

Another great blog ...... Lucca. Etc .
Enjoyed your blog ,photos too . I like taking alley ways ,doors etc., something different so loved your photos. Walled Cities are interesting , & always so old .put your Winter garb on ,when you come home ,freezing here today , wind icy cold . Food always better in Country of origin . Pity though . Enjoy while you can , hope to catch up sometime, after you get back , Many thanks for keeping in touch . Love. Norma x x