Visit Lucca - 5 Things You Will Love & Hate About Lucca, Italy

www.woltersworld.com
Lucca, Italy is a true Tuscan gem. A walled city where you can literally take the whole family onto the walls, run on them, bike on them, picnic on them and have a great time. The city's winding streets can be a bit confusing on your first day but by the end of your stay you will know them like the back of your hand. Lucca, Italia does have some things you may not like though and this video goes through the best and the worst of Lucca, Italy.
Filmed in Lucca, Italy
Copyright Mark Wolters 2012

[@Django44]

Mark, I love your travel tips. They are so down-to-earth, honest and informative, but also enjoyable and fun to watch. I save every one that has anything to do with Italy. In this one in particular I find the everyday life events going on behind you lend so much atmosphere and real-time feel to your advice-giving. One suggestion I would add is that every time I arrive in town, the first thing I do after finding my room and having a shower ( ! ) is to ask at the Tourist Office about any changes to the posted schedule of events, openings and closings, impending strikes, etc. They are an invaluable source of help!

[@woltersworld]

Glad to hear it! I love making them and am so glad that people find them helpful. Thanks for watching and all the great comments. Thanks to you! Have a great weekend!

[@hondarider519]

@woltersworld That's great man I'm looking forward to them, I appreciate you taking the time to make these videos man

[@stant7403]

Nice video...Now I will definitely visit this September...Thanks!

[@MassiveChetBakerFan]

Thanks for the tips! I really appreciate it.

[@exterminatethem2913]

I loved visiting Lucca. I would ride my mountain bike from Pisa to Lucca regularly. I lived in Italy for three years and enjoyed every minute.

[@francesmcmullan3325]

As someone who used to live in lucca best and easiest way to get there is the bus. Goes straight to the centre inside the walls and super cheap plus bags just got under the bus and its easier. Other than that agree with the points about lucca being more touristic than before and the bikes are pretty dangerous with the tourists! But i still love lucca either way

[@ChrisSmithFW]

Love your travel tips; one my faves, for sure! The wife and I will be in Munich in a few weeks for opening ceremonies. If you're around, I'd love to buy you a beer.

[@woltersworld]

I would love to but I have not been there since I started filming my videos :( I was there in 2008 and LOVED it!) we had a great time there, ate well, great weather, helpful tourist attractions. I have llublijana on afew of my top 10 Europe lists. fun city too. and easy to use as a base to see the rest of the country. hopefully I will be back in the next couple years to film there, so let us hope! maybe next summer if I can pull it off.

[@msjannd4]

I loved your video about Lucca, thanks so much for making it! I'd like to go to Italy next March during my spring break, and I'm just starting to "explore" different places. I've almost settled on Siena, but just stumbled upon your nice little video about Lucca...so...hmmm! I hadn't even heard of it before! Have you been to Siena? Ciao!!! Jan

[@TRUTHRULES777]

My Great Grandparents on mom’s side are from there. I heard my Great grandmother went to church everyday. 🕊️

[@ericwilliams3578]

We were staying in Florence & decided to spend a day in Lucca. The train trip was fine. Wonderful city. Well worth the trip. Walking the walls a real highlight!

[@woltersworld]

it depends which train you get. we had both and one was definitely easier than the other :)

[@hondarider519]

@woltersworld Sweet thanks, and I subscribed probably a month and a half ago, your videos give a lot of good information on places to visit

[@woltersworld]

much appreciated. we are planning to release 25 new videos over the 25 days of christmas so they will be coming fast and furious here soon :)

[@mattiagalanti5903]

Ehi Mark! I just discovered this video and I'm so happy to see people liking Lucca ;) I'm actually living in a small city in the mountains around Lucca, it's called Barga. If you ever see this message consider yourself invited, I'll share with you the stunning Garfagnana region ❤️

[@steveee2511]

just back of Lucca i loved it ,my day started in a bed and brakfast in rustic tuscany i was thinking first two visit Florence ,at the end i made Lucca and Manorola cinque terre and drive back switzerland was amazing day.

[@Mariantocook]

Two great restaurants in Lucca: Trattoria Gigi, at lunch, great lucchese food, nice and efficient service, very lucchese atmosphere, very good prices. Piazza del Mercato del Carmine. Then, very different kind of style but great fresh pasta and wonderful interesting french recipes, Paris Bohème. Beautiful place and atmosphere, fabulous service with Luis Fargione and really good cuisine from Chef Davide, the owners. I love this two restaurants. In Piazza Cittadella (Puccini's statue.)

[@woltersworld]

Maria Antonietta Perez Mendoza thanks for the heads up. I will check them out on our next visit!

[@Mariantocook]

:-)

[@JimCDC11]

Gigi is the best. We eat there about once a week. The food is amazing and reservations are a must.

[@deeschaffer2520]

I am an American who lives in Lucca. As for the train, there are two. One leaves Florence at about 10 minutes after the hour headed for Viareggio and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. The other is to Lucca around 38 minutes after the hour and takes 1 hr 45 minutes. There is another, but you have to change in Pisa. There is also the option of the bus which takes an hour.

[@woltersworld]

cool. glad I can help. I have had a lot of request to head to india and I would love to go, but we are going to wait until the boys are a bit older (the youngest is 2) so we will get there, but probably not for another 2 or 3 years. We are in China now and next year we are back filming in Europe and the US so 2015 is our next "free" period :) any tips on india would be greatly appreciated by the way :)

[@SuperSonicDude164]

Mark I have watched so many of your videos, how have you learned all this and travelled so much? I watched sooooo many country videos of yours.

[@woltersworld]

They both are really worth visiting. If you are on a ten day break you could do siena, Florence and lucca... that would be cool :)

[@goldie5522]

Very interesting! Thanks. We got a great map from the Tourist "i" information in Piazza S. Maria

[@woltersworld]

They both are really worth visiting. If you are on a ten day break you could do siena, Florence and lucca... that would be cool :) I really appreciate your kind words as well. hope my videos can help with your trip prep! all the best! mark

[@Ufobobo]

Nice vid Wolter!

[@joederocco9321]

you did a great job thank you keep up the good work

[@xXxRebeccaRawrxXx]

I was born and lived in Tuscan for a while. I visited Lucca too.

[@hondarider519]

Awesome man I can't wait to go to Italy this summer. Especially for the amalfi coast it looks beautiful, and I've seen in a couple of your videos where you mention it's cheap to travel by train in Italy. How much do you think it would cost to go from let's say Milan to Rome, or Milan to the amalfi

[@Lycosa]

Holy moly you have travelled SO MUCH! :O

[@suzannesadiiqa]

Go out of season, April and September are lovely. Print off a map or write of to the tourist office in your country for loads of info. Make a beeline to the Lucca tourist office the first chance you get. Do your research online for food, drinks, shopping. Agree to meet the owner of your holiday let/ B and B at a bar if possible, easier than trying to find the place by yourself and he/she will have to let you in anyway.

[@NiallMS1]

Like no 6:The Guinigi Tower, which you can climb and get a great view of the City!

[@judithm375]

Good video. My ancestor Andrien Landucci emigrated from Lucca more or less exactly 200 years ago and settled in London where he did fancy moulding work on plaster ceilings as was fashionable at that time. I've heard Lucca was famous for artisans with that skill. It seems quite a few of them emigrated. I wonder why. I'm currently learning a little Italian and I'm thinking of writing to the staff of the city's public library (there must be one) and asking if the Lucchesi have a family history society or a local history society. I know quite a bit about my ancestor Andrien Landucci's life once he arrived in London but before that is a total blank. Even if I can't find out any more about him in particular I'd like to learn about the life of ordinary Lucchesi in the past.

[@markoshea6833]

The Congress of Vienna, maybe: The Napoleanic Wars. Was Tuscany a part of Savoie? i don't know

[@joederocco9321]

thanks mark

[@ilGaddoRosso]

You should see Lucca during the Lucca Comics and Games. It's the second largest comic-con in the world, spread all over the town. Thousand of people and cosplayers that interact with the city. It's unique!

[@tanmaya1111]

Thanks for the reply Mark. I would also be in Ljubljana(University of Ljubljana) as an Erasmus Mundus Masters Student in the summer of 2014. I would start off at the University of Leeds this September and have the choice of studying in Sweden/Portugal in my final Semester. Hence your Videos are like gold for me man. Thanks a ton for that. And please visit India some time... would love your video on India. Keep traveling and keep educating!!! :)

[@mrzswaga]

@woltersworld i love watch your vids but i have a question when i get older i want to play eurobasketball which country do you think would be good to play for out of italy or spain

[@giacoboh]

Nice video! I'm from Lucca, when I was young I used to scare tourists riding my bike, priceless : D

[@robmason8649]

Be there in May thanks this helps

[@tanmaya1111]

Hey Mark, could you please upload a 5 hate love/ top 10 places to visit in Ljubljana and/or Slovenia.

[@AntonioRodriguez-di6qz]

There are 2 train lines that go from Florence to Lucca and viceversa one with final destination "Viareggio" and one with final destination"Lucca". If you can avoid it DO NOT take the line that goes directly to Lucca it has 1 million and one stops and gets you to Lucca in minimum 1 hour and 40 minutes(in the Summer it's much longer, especially in August ). Take the line that ends in Viareggio from Florence ,that usually is much smoother and gets you to your destination in about 1 hour and 10 or 20 minutes. If it's the Summer take the bus at Piazzale Verdi , in August forget the train

[@AntonioRodriguez-di6qz]

I think what happened here is Mr Wolters rationally believed that he should take the train directly to Lucca whereas this is in fact a bothersome error that involves stops in places like "Tassignano" ,which are not on the Viareggio line. Believe me I've made the same mistake once or twice

[@woltersworld]

me too

[@Kodachrome]

this video can and should be 90% shorter

[@woltersworld]

I have not :) I am going to make a few videos today for my marketing students (they have an exam on Thursday) and then I am going to "shape it" a bit for some future videos (fun stuff ;) But you will see my clean shaven mug soon enough :) well actuallly you will see lots of my clean shaven mug over this month as I am uploading new videos everyday until Christmas. :) I will try to mix them up, chunky unshaven mark in Europe and less chunky furry mark :)

[@pattjer]

Wolters World do not pay attention to this kind of comments. You are doing a wonderful job and we do not have to pay for it. Thanks so much. Very unhappy people out there.

[@FuneralDust666]

Ha Ha, no man, loved the video & Lucca sound lovely... Well November is over, did you hit the shaving cream yet?

[@absinthone]

I was in Lucca 2 weeks ago. Nothing to hate about it.. Amazing little place with great food, awesome atmosphere & yes tourists from the World over. Be friendly, speak at least basic Italian your good to go...

[@Msragsdale1]

Can you recommend any restaurants NOT to miss? We will be there 2 weeks.

[@worldofgnr]

Mark, if you dont like 90min train ride from Florence to Lucca, what would you say about Zagreb to Budapest or vice-versa train trip with 7h+ ride. Did you try that ? Trust me, that would be 1 and all 5 of things you would hate about that trip. Try it once.

[@therealconniefrancis]

I love Lucca!

[@Lord13289]

I love Lucca!!!!!

[@goldie5522]

Bucadisantantonio , across from San Michele church , comes highly recommended look on google maps via della Cervia, 3 551100 Lucca We will be there at the same time as you, next week! Can't wait! Also tripadvisor put in Lucca restaurants...

[@incaray69]

Fly to Pisa and get the bus from right outside airport. So easy!

[@FedessMs]

You were right, i loved this video. I totally agree with EVERYTHING. (Have you tasted i "Tordelli alla lucchese"? Pasta filled with ragù-tomato sauce. So taaasty :Q__) However, I think this city is a good place for families or anyone who want to take a break and relax like having a walk on the walls, visiting tours or just stop in a place and gaze - as you said. Even perfect for children which are free of run everywhere trying to catch pidjeons :.D (Except for bikes.)! ...BUT, it isn't a city for younger people like me. There's not so much entertainment; just several famous pubs and for this reason life tends to be very monotonous. It is a suggestive city but also oppressive (because it's a small city) and gossip, bullying and seeing same people everywhere you go are the main problems for who lives here. {Damn talkativeness.} {You have a new avid traveler fun!)

[@ETREVIZAN]

What is the best B&B in the walled city?

[@Carsoniman]

Early June is not “off season” from an American standpoint. Anything between May & September is high season.

[@johnsenjon]

We loved Lucca, and hope to return. But without the flea infested bed and apartment.

[@paolomirabella2386]

I ❤ Lucca bella ❤

[@woltersworld]

Yeah... i thought you would expect something good, but all i delivered was this ;)

[@user-sl3bx6gj3]

Mark, i wuv you…

[@user-sl3bx6gj3]

I’m in Lucca now, and it’s very boring…

[@FlamingoRocket641]

For Hate #1, I've been through worse traveling through America. I think I could manage that voyage of 1-2 hour train ride.

[@FuneralDust666]

Wow, the good news first... I can't handle this... Customer Expectation GAP... he he he...

[@woltersworld]

you can check out prices at trenitalia . com and that will help give you some ideas on prices. You will love Italy. It is a fantastic place. I would "cheap" is relative with the trains, if you compare it to germany or switzerland or france it is ''CHEAP' just so you know. thanks for watching and commenting! hope you will subscribe!

[@samthegardener]

lived*

[@mrzswaga]

Wolter which is a better country to go to and has nice people italy or spain

[@woltersworld]

honestly they both are great

[@mrzswaga]

Ok well which was the nicest people

[@sandorpalcso1142]

No.6. To hate in Lucca; Drunk american tourists wondering before you when you're riding your bike peacefully. ;)

[@ChrisSmithFW]

No. 7: rude, arrogant, mindless people are not bound by borders as you, my friend, attest.

[@ValentinoBerti]

I was born in Lucca

[@vickikent2192]

The butcher...mio cugino. :)

[@samthegardener]

I live in lucca for ten years, this guy doesn't know what his talking about.

[@therealconniefrancis]

State your objections, otherwise say nothing

[@AsmrLuka]

Martina, right?! It's so pointless to say "He's wrong" but not explain what he's wrong about.

[@ChrisSmithFW]

What offends you about what he had to say? He wasn't negative at all. Some people just have mud in their ears.

[@maryrivers2048]

Right outside of lucca is a roman aquaduct tourists dont getto see

[@iacopo123]

It's not roman. It was built in the frist part of XIX century.

[@samthegardener]

he's*

[@bradthompsonuk2011]

Couldn't you walk and talk at the same time? We wanted to see Lucca....

[@doyoumind9356]

I didn't hate any aspect of Lucca. Florence I didn't like.

[@boroiasar12]

He's only been there 4 days and typically American knows everything

[@luigibacchetti6539]

Italian phone's alphabet Lettera Spelling italiano A ANCONA B BOLOGNA C COMO D DOMODOSSOLA E EMPOLI F FIRENZE G GENOVA H HOTEL (Unica lettera per cui non usiamo un nome di città!) I IMOLA L LIVORNO M MILANO N NAPOLI O OTRANTO P PALERMO Q QUARTO R ROMA S SAVONA T TORINO U UDINE V VENEZIA Z ZARA Le lettere J,K,W,X,Y sono considerate “straniere” e per questa ragione hanno uno spelling a parte: J - i lunga (si può usare il nome di città: Jesolo) K - kappa W - doppiavù X - ics Y - ipsilon

[@luccasikes6146]

this is offensive cuase my name is lucca

[@xwiirastusx]

Had some vino, didn´t you? ;)

[@giacomoc3030]

Sorry that the bikes annoy you. Many of us who live here depend on them. Your hair annoys me.

[@MarinoAlberti]

show more Lucca and less of yourself....

[@classics39]

Well said. Lucca would be a so much better sight. On top talks incessantly saying little. Wedding cake facade - well, well.........

[@laylabono4035]

non parli x niente l'italiano fatti I capelli morino

[@tomengland6577]

#6 to hate about Lucca. This guy has been here.

[@francoscioli9078]

You Need A Haircut.