|
|
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.
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.
A few hints to get you started:
Sant'Annunziata, Via dei Gianni 302, Lucca
Lucca is the center of an ancient silk weaving industry that earned the
city fame and wealth from the eleventh to the thirteenth century. The
fine, hand-loomed fabrics are still made here, and certified as such,
for the name Lucca carries much honor in the silk trade. Touch the lush
colors, the stripes you have seen in Renaissance paintings, the unique
textures made by weaving other natural fibers into the silk, and you will
feel what Michelangelo felt when he draped the fabric just so.
Carli Jewelry, Via Fillungo 95, Lucca
This refined jewel of a shop is one of the oldest in Lucca, first opened
in 1655 and still furnished as it was in the eighteenth century. Situated
in the most elegant street of the historical downtown area, the windows
display small pieces of hand-made jewelry, fine watches, and antique silver.
Bring your fiancé, or remind your husband of when he was.
Taddeucci Pastry Shop, Piazza San Michele 34, Lucca
Lucca residents come here mainly to purchase the king of all local desserts:
the Buccellato, whose origin, according to experts, is very ancient. The
name goes back to the Latin buccellatum, which means "sailors'
cookie." The classical recipe contains flour, milk, sugar, yeast, eggs,
butter, orange peel, raisins, and candied fruit, and it's been made here
without change for four generations. Try one instead of breakfast.
La Grotta Gastronomy, Via Anfiteatro 2, Lucca
This is the temple of Lucca's gastronomic cult, purveyors of the finest
regional specialties since 1869. The long open-air food stand that fronts
the store is a triumphant symphony of local flavors and scents. You will
find a wide selection of foods whose authenticity is guaranteed by the
Denominazione Origine Controlata-pepper pecorino, Tuscan salami, and Soppressata,
and the finest extra-virgin olive oil.
Marsili Winery, Piazza San Michele 38, and Via del Moro 18-22, Lucca
At Marsili, you can find the famous Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino wines,
but you can also delve more deeply into the local viniculture. Sample
the lesser known but very pleasant wines that have been perfectly tuned
over centuries to accompany local dishes. The very finest wines of the
region, the Colline Lucchesi and the Montecarlo, both white and red, are
available here. And it would be a mistake not to try at least one of the
many herb liqueurs and digestifs that are produced locally to ancient
family recipes.
Carrara and Pietrasanta are known throughout
the world for their precious white marble from the Apuane Alps.
|
|
