After a 30-minute bus ride from Pisa, I arrived in Lucca and walked through the city’s Renaissance-era walls into the historic center.
I found it to be the perfect place to wander in December, and because many roads were blocked off to cars, it felt very peaceful.
Within the walls, there are Romanesque churches and striking medieval towers. I started at Guinigi Tower, where visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views of terracotta rooftops and rolling Tuscan hills.
Afterward, I wandered along the city walls, where I admired colorful murals, and dined at Osteria da Pasqualino, where I enjoyed fettuccine with cream of zucchini and prawns with lemon, along with an afternoon glass of wine in a beautiful courtyard.
Clothing shops and gelaterias surround Lucca’s charming squares. When I was there, there were hardly any crowds, and the city felt cinematic.
