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When
in Lucca
The medieval town of
Lucca is an undiscovered gem that rivals nearby Florence, Pisa, and Siena.
Little known beyond the cognoscenti who have vacationed here for
generations, the surrounding Lucchesia region has a charm even more authentic
and sophisticated than the rest of Tuscany. The landscape of gentle hills,
blanketed with olive groves and vineyards, camellia-scented gardens and
forested coastline, is a haven of calm and beauty.
Lucca,
the walled 'city of a hundred churches'--a treasure trove of medieval
and Renaissance art and architecture.
.
The
palacial villas of the Lucca aristocracy offer views into a world of beauty,
a life surrounded by art.
The traditional cuisine of Lucchesia balances
subtle sophistication with an earthy appreciation for the local bounty
of the land.
One of the great advantages of your own villa is the opportunity to explore
the local markets and experiment in your own kitchen with the culinary
wealth that the region offers. Eating out then becomes a true pleasure
and source of inspiration, and not the traveller's perpetual obligation.
The soups are the soul-food of the Lucchese kitchen: the
classic spelt soup; the hearty infarinata of beans, black cabbage,
and corn meal;garmugia with asparagus, fava beans, peas, and artichokes;
and the frantoiana, a vegetable soup dressed with the freshly milled
olive oil famous to Lucca. Follow with spit-roasted pork livers, the marvellous
quiches, richly flavored goat meat, or the local tagliate, but
be sure to leave room for one of the marvellous traditional desserts of
the region: Buccellato, Castagnaccio, or Stiacciatine.
It would be truly unfair to single out only a handful of
restaurants for mention here from the many, many treasures to be discovered.
You will have to make your own list, and we offer these just to get you
started:
Caffè Di Simo, Via Fillilungo 58, Lucca
For a home-made aperitif or a cappuccino and pastries to die for, or simply
for the experience, find your way to the Caffè Di Simo, located on Lucca's
most elegant shopping street. The old-world ambience is completely authentic,
with the same Liberty-style furnishings that graced the scene when the
café was the place to be for musicians and writers of the last century.
Puccini was a regular here, as was the poet Giuseppe Ungaretti. You'll
find the atmosphere still provides inspiration.
Buca di Sant'Antonio, Via della Cervia 3, Lucca
This downtown osteria has been dishing up the the warm heart of the Tuscan
tradition since 1782. Don't miss the the spelt soup, a delicious specialty
seasoned with a few drops of the local extra-virgin olive oil. The home-made
pasta is excellent, served with sauces of game meat or mushrooms. Other
specialties are the fried lamb, stuffed rabbit, and barbecued stockfish.
La Mora, Via Sesto di Moriano, 1748 , Ponte a Moriano, Lucca
Until the nineteenth century, this welcoming trattoria on the road to
the Garfagnana was a postal station where you could have a meal while
the horses rested. It now serves authentic regional food. The restaurateur,
Sauro Brunicardi, a very pleasant Toscanaccio, serves only authentic
local dishes. Try the game meat, the stew with polenta, or the delicate
dishes of fresh water fish like trout and Serchio eel. The home-made desserts
are excellent.
The beaches of Versilia, little known
to foreign tourists, are where the money of Milan vacations.
In Lucca, shopping is a splendid sensual
experience: look for fine silks and culinary treats.
Carrara and Pietrasanta are known throughout
the world for their precious white marble from the Apuane Alps.
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