Coastal Tuscany

[DosAmigos]

I'm looking at a summer break to coastal Tuscany, hiring self-catering accommodation. The Lucca Region has been mentioned - has anyone any knowledge or experience of this area, I don't know where to start looking!

Thanks....

[buildersmate]

Lucca is not actually on the coast - it is about 20 kilometres inland. As a tourist destination for a couple of days I found it a delightful destination (Its a walled old city) but personally I wouldn't stay there. The impression that I gained of the hinterland from there to the coast is one of flat coast plain and marsh. It is even worse scenery around Pisa where the coastal delta of the Arno is 9apart from the small central area around the leaning tower, I thought Pisa was a dump). And to the south, Livorno is a major port.
So I'm not sure what the attractive of coastal Tuscany would be - most people go to Tuscany for the rolling hills, ancient towns and the main tourist attractive cities (Firenze and Siena).
I reckon you need to be at least 80 kilometres inland to be able to access these - so why go closer to the coast - this coast is hardly bucket-and-spade territory.

[DosAmigos]

Thanks for your advice Buildersmate. As i said, I don't know the area at all, although I had heard that Pisa is a dump. Flying Bournemouth to Pisa is the attraction there..

I'll broaden my investigations....

[buildersmate]

Flying into Pisa for convenience is entirely recommended. As is tootling up to see the Leaning Tower (gotta do it if that close). Its just that there isn't, in my opinion, a whole lot else attractive to entertain in that area for a week.

[Buenchico]

If you're flying into Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport there's a direct train service to Pisa Central station. From there you can catch a train northwards (with a reasonably frequent service, and a journey time of around 1 hour 40 minutes) to the lovely little coastal town of Rapallo. It's big enough to have a lively market but small enough not to be packed with overseas tourists. (It's where the smart Italians go on holiday!). It's got a small but pleasant sandy beach, looking out onto a stunning bay (which you can view from the patios of the good quality bars and restaurants across the road).

Rapallo is a great base for exploring. The (really cheap trains) take you to Genoa (with a beautiful old city centre) or to nearby resorts like Santa Margherita (still famous for its associations with Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor) or into the (World Heritage Area of) Cinque Terre. Or you can take a boat (because no cars are allowed) to the billionaires' resort of Portofino (or to further afield if you want).

I love Rapallo so much that I've visited it several times on day trips(!) from the UK! (I've used Genoa's Cristoforo Colombo Airport, to approach Rapallo from the north)

Self-catering accommodation is in limited supply in the area but there are a few possibilities. e.g:
http://www.tripadviso..._Italian_Riviera.html

Unless you've won the lottery though, it might be best to avoid Portofino!
http://www.tripadviso..._Italian_Riviera.html

Chris