Historic Cities and Towns::
The beautiful city of LUCCA, the birthplace of Puccini, is only 15-20 minutes by car from Casa Girasole. It is less busy than cities such as Florence and has many pedestrianised areas. To get a good perspective of Lucca you can take a walk or bicycle ride along its intact 16th century city walls, which are planted with plane trees. There are many sights to visit, including the unusual Piazza Anfiteatro, the Duomo of San Martino, the San Michele church, and the Torre Guinigi topped by oak trees. The main shopping street, Via Filungo, provides excellent shopping, particularly for clothes and leather goods. Also within easy reach are MONTECATINI TERME, a spa town with elegant shops and hotels, where you can take a range of treatments, and MONSUMMANO TERME where there is an outdoor thermal swimming pool, open all the year round.
FLORENCE can be reached in 45 minutes by car or by train from the nearby Pescia station. There are a great number of places of interest, including the world-famous Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, Accademia with Michelangelo’s David, and the Piazza della Signoria. For a wonderful view of the city, climb up to the Piazzale Michelangelo. PISA is also only 40 minutes drive away and a visit to the Piazza dei Miracoli to see the Leaning Tower, the Duomo and the Baptistery is a must.
Slightly further afield (60-90 minutes by car), you will find SIENA with its fan shaped piazza, Il Campo, where the Palio horse races are held in early July and mid-August. Not far from Siena is the hilltop village of SAN GIMIGNANO, which has a fascinating skyline of 13 medieval towers. A drive through the beautiful countryside of the CHIANTI region between Florence and Siena is a delight, and provides the opportunity to taste the world-famous wine.
Seaside and Mountains::
VIAREGGIO, only 40 minutes by car, has a fine sand beach, a harbour, elegant shops, restaurants and bars. The Viareggio carnival held each February is internationally renowned, as is the Puccini opera festival held at Torre del Lago each July and August. Exclusive FORTE DEI MARMI, just north of Viareggio, also has excellent designer shops and a sandy beach backed by pine trees. Going further north, the CINQUE TERRE can be reached by train or boat. Here you can take lovely coastal walks between the five small villages.
In the GARFAGNANA region to the north of Lucca (60-90 minutes by car) you will find the Serchio River, bounded by the Apuane Mountains, woods and deep valleys, and the well-known towns of Barga and Bagni di Lucca. The ski resort of ABETONE can be reached within 90 minutes.
Other Activities:
theatre, wine-tasting, spa treatments; FULL AND HALF DAY TRIPS, AND COOKERY AND ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES, CAN BE ARRANGED
