Years ago, when our original
‘Tuscan Tours’ were based in Lucca, we covered the entire region from
the coast to Florence and Siena. A frequent comment at the time was that
we did not do Lucca justice. We agree. We promised ourselves that one
day we would run ‘Lucca Tours’, and spotlight this magnificent walled
city and its surrounding countryside. Over the years, we’ve made many
friends in the area; and now that Jamie and Nina have settled there,
these friendships have blossomed. Doors have opened that allow us to
give our Papillon guests a privileged insider’s look at this
undiscovered Tuscan gem.
Throughout the week, we will
be invited to visit private houses,
renowned villas and gardens. Their owners can offer incredible insight
into the social and cultural history of Lucca and its surrounding hills.
Lucca
society distinguishes Lucca ‘dentro’ (inside the walls) and Lucca
‘fuori’ (outside the walls). We’ll make at least four Lucca ‘dentro’
incursions, visiting a different quarter each time to tell a different
part of the story. As well as being of huge historical significance and
strikingly beautiful, Lucca is also known for the quality of its shops.
Each of the quarters that we will visit has its own specialties, be it
antiques, artisan workshops, elegant clothing or regional food and wine.
Last
year in Biarritz, we put a good deal more emphasis on the in-house
comparative food and wine tastings that we are so fond of, and found
them to be enormously popular. We will offer a number of these
throughout the week. You will have the opportunity to taste and compare
traditional regional ingredients, as well as Ellie’s mouth-watering
interpretations of Lucca cuisine. Dennis will guide you through a
fascinating array of Italian wine, as well as some of the finest olive
oil anywhere.
To
understand Lucca’s place in the flow of history, it’s necessary to
understand the local geography. To do this, we’ll also be visiting the
nearby coast and important vantage points in the mountains. Lying close
to the sea, protected on three sides by mountains, Lucca controls access
to Italy’s second largest agricultural plain. The open side faces
Florence, whose armies could march along it at will, necessitating Lucca
to construct one of Europe’s finest and most beautiful circuits of
defensive walls. However, Pisa was-- and still is-- Lucca’s ‘public
enemy number one’. Throughout the centuries Pisa fought to deny Lucca
access to the sea. Lucca, however, sits on a great land route - the ‘Francigiana’,
the ancient pilgrim track that linked northern Europe to Rome. As a
commercial center, the town grew fat during the Middle Ages through
banking and the silk trade.
We
feel that this week will be more than just a vacation. This is a chance
for an in-depth look at of one of Europe’s finest towns and most
beautiful regions, and this from an insiders’ perspective. It’s a
challenge that Dennis, Ellie & Jamie and their Lucchese friends look
forward to.
