Lucca

Long one of Tuscany’s best kept secrets, the walled town of Lucca sits alluringly nestled betwixt the much-trodden cities of Pisa and Florence, enveloped by the undulating green hills of middle Italy. Visitors here are treated to a patchwork of historical points of interest, in a town still oozing with some of the best gothic art works around, all topped with a healthy dash of sophisticated café-culture, quintessentially Italian piazzas and real, rustic local cooking. Ask you Lucca tour guide for tips on walking routes through the barricaded old town, wandering down the bubbling Via Fillungo and out onto the open Piazza di San Martino, where the breath-taking Duomo casts its shadow over the red-tiled roofs and sunny squares below. Take a stroll through the meandering streets and search out the hidden trattorias, where Lucchese specialities are served super-cheap all day long, from simple olive oil mezzes to the sweet buccellato breads that can only be found in this corner of Tuscany. But Lucca is also a cyclist’s dream, and adventure lovers are invited to ride the five-kilometre track that rings its way around the city walls, or break out into the serene hills that encircle the city for a stroll through the very heart of Italy itself.