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This new 4-star hotel enjoys a super-central location just inside Lucca’s famous walls, overlooking the double squares of Piazza del Giglio and tree-lined Piazza Napoleone (setting for the evening passeggiata. Nothing is more than ten minutes’ walk within Lucca’s historic centre.
Occupying a historic building, not much remains of its storied past (erstwhile guests include Giacomo Puccini, John Ruskin and – later – Chet Baker) thanks to a recent, contemporary re-vamp, but it remains a comfortable and central place to stay in a city where the hotel scene is rather lacking.
There’s a restaurant where you can sample the chef’s contemporary take on local classics, but the real x-factor is the rooftop bar; perfect for a sunset cocktail, overlooking Lucca’s ancient rooftops.
Leafy piazza Napoleone and adjacent Piazza del Giglio are a quiet, pedestrian area lined with Renaissance mansions. In the early evening, it fills with locals enjoying the passeggiata before dinner.
The immediate area is brimming with restaurants, cafés and interesting little shops; it’s a lively area but largely pedestrianised, so traffic noise is limited.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Lucca, Tuscany, Italy[0.3 miles]
A picturesque mix of Medieval and Renaissance buildings, Lucca is a gem of a town that never gets over-run with tourists, giving it a delightfully authentic feel.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Pisa, Tuscany, Italy[15.7 miles]
One of Italy’s most popular sights, an astonishingly beautiful but leaning belltower dating back to 1173, doomed from the outset having been built on unstable sand and clay. The still-famously titling tower still attracts millions of visitors a year, for the unnerving climb up its 293 steps.
Best for ages: 10+ | £15
Pisa, Tuscany, Italy[15.7 miles]
Pisa’s Field of Miracles is an extraordinary complex of historic buildings set on a wide green lawn, encompassing the iconic Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Campo Santo.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
Lucca, Tuscany, Italy[0.5 miles]
On the third weekend of the month, Piazza San Martino and the surrounding streets host a sprawling antiques market with everything from furniture and pictures to coins, jewellery and vintage clothes.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free
Pisa, Tuscany, Italy[16.6 miles]
Housed in the atmospheric, 17th-century ex-Arsenal, this archaeological museum traces the fascinating 1,000-year history of seafaring and ships in Pisa, once a great Maritime Republic. Star exhibits include the collection of restored Roman vessels, unearthed in the San Rossore area.
Best for ages: 4+ | £6
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Tuscany, Italy
The astonishingly beautiful region of Tuscany has it all: art cities and ancient hill towns, high mountains and long sandy beaches, alongside luxurious hotels and some of Italy’s best food and wine.
