Pisa, Lucca & north

Pisa and Lucca

North-west Tuscany packs a lot into a small area: two famous cities, a long sandy coast and quiet mountain valleys, all close to Pisa airport. It makes a practical base for a first visit to Tuscany, and Florence is about an hour away by car or train.

In Pisa, the Piazza dei Miracoli brings together the cathedral, the baptistery and the Leaning Tower on a wide green lawn, and the square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Away from the crowds, the riverside streets along the Arno and the student life around the university give the city a relaxed, everyday feel.

Lucca, a short drive inland, is ringed by complete Renaissance walls, now a tree-lined path for walking and cycling right around the town. Inside are oval Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, built on the site of a Roman amphitheatre, the Guinigi Tower with oak trees growing on its top, and dozens of churches. The composer Giacomo Puccini was born here, and his music is played in the town throughout the year.

The coast and the mountains

To the west, the Versilia coast runs north from Viareggio, with its seafront of Art Nouveau buildings, to Forte dei Marmi. Beaches here are wide and sandy, with organised bathing establishments and some free stretches. Pietrasanta, just inland, is a town of sculptors working with marble from the Apuan Alps, whose quarries above Carrara are visible from the coast.

North of Lucca, the Serchio valley and the Garfagnana are green, wooded and much quieter. The medieval Ponte della Maddalena, also known as the Devil's Bridge, crosses the river at Borgo a Mozzano, and Barga is a handsome hill town with long views. The spa town of Bagni di Lucca was a favourite of British travellers in the nineteenth century.

Food and wine

Garfagnana cooking uses farro, chestnut flour and mountain cheeses, while Lucca is known for its olive oil and the Colline Lucchesi and Montecarlo wines. In Pisa, look out for cecina, a thin chickpea flatbread. The area suits families, couples and anyone who wants beach days, city sightseeing and countryside in one holiday.

Browse the villas listed below to find your base, or read more about holidays in Tuscany.