The Lucca area is packed with beautiful sights and cultural events, all within easy driving distance of Villa Aquilea near Lucca Tuscany Italy.  Taking day trips, with the villa as home base, is a perfect way to experience the best of Tuscany. Here are some terrific things to do...

1. Lucca

Visible from Villa Aquilea, the city of Lucca is about a twenty minute drive away. One of the most beautiful and charming towns in Tuscany – its piazzas and winding streets are full of restaurants, coffee bars, shops, museums, and gelato shops and the whole city is surrounded by massive walls.  Lucca has bicycles rentals for trips around the walls and through town. Most guests return again and again.

2. Florence

Florence is an easy day-trip, and most guests have spent a day visiting the famous city.  To get to the historic city center, we recommend one of the express buses or trains from Lucca directly to downtown Florence – it is quick, hassle free and reliable. We can give you the schedules and all the details when you arrive.

3. The Cinque Terre

The seaside villages of the Cinque Terre are about an hour and 20 minutes from Villa Aquilea and have been a favorite day-trip for our guests, with its crystal clear water, spectacular scenery and cliffside hiking between the fishing villages.

 

4. The Leaning Tower of Pisa

About 45 minutes from Villa Aquilea, the tower and cathedral make a nice ½ day visit. For the summer months, we recommend buying your tickets to climb the tower before your trip

5. Aquilea countryside

Villa Aquilea sits on one of the most beautiful hills in Tuscany and many people come to hike the roads and paths in the area, through olive groves, vineyards and to the ruins of Castellaccio. In the evenings, there is a lovely 2 kilometer walk to the local pizzeria for dinner and drinks.

6. Local village festivals

Almost every weekend during the summer one or more of the villages near Lucca holds a themed local festival – some include outdoor dining and dancing, some are medieval festivals. Aquilea’s festival is usually the last weekend in July and the first in August, with dinner in the vineyards next to the church, then ballroom dancing under the stars. A very special non-tourist taste of Tuscany.

7. The grand villas of Lucca

Some of the most beautiful villas and gardens in Tuscany are visible from the terrace of Villa Aquilea and some are open to tour. Villa Torrigiani, Villa Reale, Villa Grabau, Villa Mansi, Villa Oliva, and Villa Guinigi are nearby and open to the public. Also nearby is Collodi, with its Villa Garsoni and the Parco di Pinocchio. We have all the schedules and details.

8. Viareggio

For a leisurely day sunning, the beaches of Viareggio are less than an hour from Villa Aquilea. These wide sand beaches are similar to Florida beaches, except you can see the white mountains of Carrara in the background.

9.  Vinci

For fans of "The Da Vinci Code", Vinci, birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci, is about an hour from the villa and has numerous Leonardo da Vinci museums and also pretty countryside. 

10. Wine tasting

We know some good local wineries that produce Lucca’s famous red and white wines. Also, there is an ancient cavernous wine cellar underneath the city of Lucca which is a great place for tastings.

11. Tennis and golf

There are a number of clay-court tennis clubs nearby. There are also a number of golf courses within an hour’s drive, including the Montecatini Golf Club and, by the sea, the Cosmopolitan Golf Club.

12. The marble of Carrara

For 2000 years, the famous white marble used in Michelangelo’s David has been mined near Lucca in the town of Carrara. The white mountain, enormous quarries and marble caves are still in operation and offer tours.

13. Local markets

The town of Ponte a Moriano, just down the hill from Villa Aquilea, has a small open air market (fruit, seafood, clothing) on Tuesday mornings. Lucca holds a larger market with similar goods every Wednesday and Saturday. Lucca’s crafts market is the 3rd weekend every month and Lucca’s antiques market is the 4th weekend every month.

14. Pizza party

If you would like, we will fire up the villa’s huge antique brick oven so you can make authentic Tuscan pizzas at the villa.  Many groups have enjoyed making their own pizzas and drinking wine late into the evening on the terrace.  A lot of fun.

15. The Garfagnana

The Apuan Alps and the Garfagnana region of Tuscany are just north of Villa Aquilea. Here you can find spectacular mountain hiking. On the way, see the 800-year-old Devil’s Bridge and the hilltop town of Barga.

16. Bagni di Lucca

The famous baths and spas of Bagni di Lucca are about 30 minutes north of Villa Aquilea.

17. Montecarlo

The charming hilltop town of Montecarlo, visible from Villa Aquilea, produces some outstanding wine, has good restaurants, and a castle offering tours in the summer.

18. Summer concerts

The summers are full of music concerts, many of which take place outdoors or in ancient cathedrals. Some of the biggest names in pop music play outdoors in a piazza inside the walls of Lucca. For opera lovers, the Puccini Festival takes place outdoors in July and August, in a lovely lakeside setting near Puccini’s villa.

 

19. The 'Orrido di Botri'

A narrow canyon with clear cold water and waterfalls, for hiking and swimming on hot summer days.  It is about an hour from the villa.

20. Olive harvest

Villa Aquilea is surrounded by thousands of olive trees, and during the late fall all the locals harvest the shiny green olives. Commercial harvesting in this area is virtually impossible due to the terraced landscape and the irregular placement of the centuries-old trees. Instead, the harvest (from early November - January) is done like it always has been.  Families and friends pass the beautiful fall days working their own small olive groves, laughing and enjoying the beautiful fall weather and the spectacular view, and maybe a picnic lunch. The small green olives are taken to the local "frantolio", or olive press. There, the olives are crushed by a huge stone wheel and the resulting paste is then squeezed. The delicious fresh oil that pours out is spicy and a deep buttery golden green.

21. Christmas in Tuscany

Lucca is gorgeous when decorated with white Christmas lights, and the tiny stores which line the twisting streets are open late in the evenings before Christmas day. There is an outdoor skating rink in Piazza Grande in the city. Also Villa Aquilea is beautiful when decorated with white Christmas lights, a large tree and classic decorations.  If you also stay for New Year’s Eve, you will see an unforgettable fireworks celebration from the terrace.