UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN : LUCCA

Italy has to be one of my favorite countries...from the incredible food, the gorgeous landscapes, delicious food, and what I'm featuring today...the most charming villages. On a recent jaunt to Tuscany, we stumbled onto Lucca, an adorable walled Renaissance town. It felt like a step back in time, and what most people hope for and expect when they visit Italy...and often, don't find in the large cities of Rome, Naples and even Venice. All of which, I adore, but this was like finding a secret gem. We rented a car in Tuscany to be able to hop around and explore little villages like this. After scoring some parking within the walls of Lucca, we set out on foot to see it all. There is a large pathway on top of the wall that you can walk or better, cycle around! It is such a fun way to get around and scope out the town below.Next, we headed to the large oval shaped "square" of Piazza dell'Anfiteatro for some vino and souvenirs! We stopped for some delicious snacks and watched people wander through the piazza! Save time to climb to the top of Torre Guinigi, a medieval tower with a stunning view of Lucca. You'll spot it from anywhere because there are gorgeous trees planted at the top! Worth every step. And as always, GELATO. We tried the delicious La Bottega Del Gelato and loved it! A day is the perfect amount of time to see Lucca but if you have longer or want to really to do some slow travel, this is a perfect place to relax and soak in some authentic Italian charm. We stayed a quick drive away at the gorgeous Locando Al Colle. See more here!