Lucca

For pleasant weather, visit in May or September, when days are warm and rain is moderate. July and August are the hottest months, with peaks around 31°C. November is the rainiest, with 15 wet days. June offers a drier stretch with fewest rain days. The Lucca Summer Festival, held in summer, is a well-known music event.

Stay inside the historic center for proximity to Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and the Duomo. The area around Via Fillungo suits shoppers and those wanting boutiques, with A Palazzo Busdraghi there. Near Piazza Napoleone, you are close to sights and quiet streets, where Palazzo Dipinto sits. For a green, slower stay, the area near the Mura di Lucca (the city walls) works well, with Lucca in Villa San Donato nearby.

The must-sees start with Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, the oval square marking the old Roman arena. Piazza Napoleone is the city's main gathering square. The Duomo di San Martino holds the revered Volto Santo, while Guinigi Tower offers rooftop views from its famous holm oaks. Walk the Mura di Lucca, the well-preserved Renaissance walls, and pass through Porta San Pietro, a grand historic gate.

The full-day tours from Lucca head to Cinque Terre, a string of five colorful cliffside villages with hiking trails and sea views. Other tours go to Siena and San Gimignano, two medieval Tuscan hill towns, with a stop in the Chianti wine region. You could also plan your own trip, but these organized outings cover the main highlights.

Two days in Lucca let you see the main sights: the elliptical Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, the Duomo di San Martino, the Guinigi Tower with its rooftop trees, and a walk along the Mura di Lucca. Add a third day if you want to take a full-day tour to Cinque Terre or Siena and San Gimignano, since those leave from Lucca. That gives you a relaxed pace with time for a coffee in Piazza Napoleone.