Lucca

Activities

After meeting your guide at the Tourist Information Center in the city center of Lucca, discover the city and its main sights and monuments. With your professional licensed guide, explore the downtown area for 2 hours.   Among other sites, visit the Church of San Michele, an incredibly detailed Roman Catholic basilica that was built as early as 795. Admire its 4 meter-tall statue of the Archangel Michael, the church’s patron saint. Enter the church free of charge and view its simpler, but still imposing interior architecture. You’ll also take a stroll on the city’s 16th century walls, a lovely place to walk among the greenery of the edge of the old town.     The tour ends at Lucca Cathedral, a splendid Roman Catholic church with a beautiful façade. If you’d like to continue on the tour with your guide, simply pay the small entrance fee and your guide will show you the interior and continue to share their knowledge. If not, your tour is finished and you can relax in a café with a drink at your leisure or continue to explore the city.

Discover how to make a typical Italian pizza with the help of a local chef from Florence, and get cooking tips on pizza and gelato making in the heart of the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” On arrival, an expert chef will be on hand to help you prepare the flexible yeast dough that stretches to almost paper-like thinness. Learn how to make a flavorful, yet light tomato sauce. Even if you normally bake pizza in your oven, these techniques are universal. Roll up your sleeves to stretch, sauce and then bake your dough. End by slicing it for the best pizza you have ever tasted! Once you’ve made your pizza, get hands-on with the gelato! Learn about the basic ingredients and how to select the best raw produce according to specific principles. Get tips on the development and application of natural colors, heating and freezing techniques, and how each has a different effect on the ingredients. Don’t forget to collect your Graduation Certificate before you leave!

Follow the Serchio River and cycle along scenic country roads on the way to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa on this family-friendly self-guided tour. This easy/intermediate journey starts in Lucca and follows secondary country roads all around the Monti Pisani. Cycle down 33 kilometers of dirt and asphalt roads with the extra help of a hybrid or e-bike. Bikes are fitted with a phone holder, making it easy to follow the GPS directions on the application. The journey to Pisa takes between 2 to 4 hours. After approximately 20 kilometers, stop at San Giuliano Terme for a refreshing drink in the charming central square in front of the Spa. The itinerary ends in Piazza dei Miracoli, in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Return to Lucca on a direct route by bike or on a 25-minute train ride. The bikes fit easily into the train's storage wagons and train tickets can be purchased in advance from the local partner.

Built during the Renaissance, the Walls of Lucca are a leading example of Italian fortification. Explore this large public park that surrounds and delimits the historical center. Immerse in the elevated walkway, flanked by different varieties of trees. Also, take in the incredible experience of visiting their interior. Discover the galleries and the recently restored rooms. The restoration has given back one of the most treasured monuments to the inhabitants of Lucca and has made moving from the inside of the city to the outside, simple and very suggestive. Learn from your local guide all about the evolution of military engineering in Italy from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Visit the interior of the bastions that incidentally were never used for defensive purposes. Also, discover the immense brick vaults of the galleries, built for the purpose of hiding the heavy bronze cannons.

Experience the magic of flying high above the cypress-studded hills and vineyards of Tuscany on a 1-hour VIP hot air balloon flight over Lucca. The adventure begins as soon as you arrive at the take-off field, dependent on weather conditions. Watch as the balloons are inflated and prepared before your eyes. Once the pilots have done their final checks and given you a briefing about flight safety, climb into the balloon basket and begin your float to altitudes of up to 2,000 feet (6,000 meters). Glide over valleys and castles, enjoying breathtaking panoramic views of the rolling hills below. As the balloons are directed by the breeze, each flight offers a unique experience every time. Upon landing, enjoy a glass of sparkling champagne to celebrate your adventure. Then transfer back by shuttle bus to your take-off site.

Depart Lucca and transfer to Riomaggiore to catch a boat (weather permitting) to Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Riomaggiore is the most southern village of the Cinque Terre, and its houses are built along the cliff face. Upon arrival, explore one of the oldest villages of the Cinque Terre. Walk down narrow alleys to pretty squares of pastel colored houses. Enjoy some free time for a relaxing lunch (own expense) at one of the open-air restaurants that line the waterfront. Take a stroll through the back streets for impressive views along the coast.

Pickup your Vespa or scooter from the meeting point, get kitted out with the necessary gear, then hit the road where your adventure begins. Spend the day exploring Lucca and its surroundings according to your own preferences. Visit some of the region’s most famous and historic villas, stop at the impressive Devil’s Bridge in Borgo a Mozzano, pass by the sprawling vineyards and olive groves in Montecarlo, or see the thermal baths in Bagni di Lucca. By the end of the day, you’ll have seen the very best that the area has to offer, and experienced a thrilling ride.

Dive into a "sea of beauty", and experience many of Italy’s splendid art masterpieces, enjoy spending time at a famous seaside resort and admire the breathtaking landscapes of Tuscany. The beautiful city of Lucca is along the picturesque road from Florence that leads towards the coast. It is a refined city of art, surrounded by renaissance style tree-lined walls which feature beautiful doors and impressive bastions. Begin your tour of the city with a relaxing walk along a stretch of the city walls and enjoy a wonderful overview of roofs, alleys, tower-houses, wonderful churches and aristocratic palaces of the old city, before moving onto the historical town center close by. Discover Piazza S. Michele in the heart of the city, which features a splendid Basilica in white limestone built between the 12th–14th century. Pass by traditional Italian shops overlooking the squares and narrow roads and reach Piazza del Mercato which was built on the tracks of a Roman amphitheatre dating back to the second century BC. Following this you will visit the famous Gothic Cathedral of San Martino built in the 11th century and featuring the tomb of Ilaria del Carretto, an artistic masterpiece. After a short journey, you reach the splendid and flat Versilian coast and the seaside town of Viareggio, famous for its beautiful beaches, the wonderful "Liberty" architecture that characterizes many of its buildings and the long and exciting walk along "Viale del Mare" with cafès–chantant, restaurants and shops that are among the most elegant of the coast. After a short journey, you will then reach the splendid and flat Versilia coast in one of the most famous tourist seaside resort of the Mediterranean sea, attended by aristocrats, celebrities and sports stars: the seaside town of Forte dei Marmi, which stretches along sandy beaches against the backdrop of the magnificent Apuan Alps. During your free time you can take the occasion to admire the old town, with many elegant shops, high fashion boutiques and outdoor cafes and to walk in the shade of the palm trees on the waterfront, to admire the villas sprouting from the pine forest and the most beautiful beach resorts in the world. Do not miss the opportunity to try the fragrant seafood in one of the many restaurants along the coast, and during the summer, you can take the occasion for an unforgettable swim in the warm waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea with the spectacular backdrop of the white marble of the Apuan Alps that sparkles in the sun. In the afternoon, you move inland and reach the famous city of Pisa, heralded by the glittering view of Piazza dei Miracoli, UNESCO heritage, where the peerless masterpieces in marble rise from the green lawn. The famous Leaning Tower, the magnificent Baptistery, the stunning Cathedral, and the Monumental Graveyard, are unforgettable examples of Romanesque architecture from the 12th and 13th centuries.

Uncover the secrets of Italian family recipes on your travels, Your guide, or Cesarina will share their wisdom, which has been passed down in their families for generations. Immerse yourself in a private cooking class at your guide's home. Learn the secrets of the most famous dishes of regional cuisine and taste the fruit of your labor accompanied by local wines.  During the lesson, the Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic local recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Participants will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. Instead of loading your suitcase with souvenirs, take home Italian cooking skills that'll stay with you for life.

Fall in love with Pisa and the amazing Piazza Dei Miracoli: the most popular attraction in Pisa where you will have free time to visit the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery or to relax. Once you arrive in Lucca, have some free time for lunch or if you wish you can add to your guided tour a typical lunch in the city center. After the lunch an escort will lead you past the most important landmarks like the Torre Guinigi, the Anfiteatro Square and the San Frediano Church. You can add a typical lunch in the city center to your excursion, or if you prefer visiting Lucca and Pisa on your own you can choose the Low-Cost Option that includes only the transfer.  Note for arrival: upon debarkation, all cruise ship passengers should take 1 of the free shuttle buses from the pier to the terminal; this takes approximately 5 minutes. You will be met by a representative at the shuttle stop.