“Our” village Valdottavo is known for its own theatre and band performances throughout the year. It also hosts the olive oil festival in late March.

Only 17 km away lies Lucca (www.comune.lucca.it), a walled medieval town with numerous sights, great shopping, and countless cafes, piazzas and restaurants to discover in the maze of cobbled streets. An annually recurring highlight is the series of open air summer concerts featuring major international artists: Elton John, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Zucchero, George Michael etc. Late October draws comics fans from all over the world. The town has museums, parks, an open air cinema and charming markets. The most typical walk of this town goes along the 4 km long and 12 m wide city walls, providing a unique, wonderful birds-eye view of the city and surrounding countryside.

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Other interesting visits in the vicinity of Lucca in Tuscany

• Happy in Lucca" : https://www.youtube.com

• Visit Tuscany: www.turismo.intoscana.it/site/en

• At fifteen minutes drive in the direction of Lucca are particularly beautiful villas, historical country residences built between the 15th and 19th centuries. They are surrounded by splendid parks where summertime concerts are held (www.villelucchesi.it)

• The Wine and Oil route: Lucca, Montecarlo, Versiglia (www.wineroutelucca.com)

• The Chianti Route

• Florence, Siena, San Geminiano, Arezzo, Pisa etc etc: all possible daytrips (www.welcometuscany.it)

• The Garfagnana has many medieval villages like Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, and Barga. Barga is home to the famous Jazz festival (BargaJazz), an opera festival and has numerous international painters and artists (www.Castelnuovo.it; www.Barga.it)

• Thermal baths at Bagni di Lucca (www.bagnidilucca.net)

• Various music festivals within easy driving distance (Florence, Pisa, Puccini operas at Torre del Lago, www.puccinifestival.it Pistoia Blues, www.pistoiablues.com)

• The famous Viareggio Carneval (www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com)

• Seaside: the coast with both sandy and rocky beaches (Viareggio, Pietrasanta, Castiglioncello) is a 45 minute drive away

• The natural and historical gems of the Cinque Terre (www.lecinqueterre.org)

• The marble quarries at Carrara

• For young (at heart) visitors: Collodi (Pinocchio) park  (www.pinocchio.it)

• Natural parks: Grotta del Vento, Garfagnana and the Alpi Apuane. These areas offer wonderful walking, biking and trekking routes, either guided or on your own (www.tuttogarfagnana.it)

• In the winter, the ski and snowboard slopes of Abetone are a 1 hour drive away (www.abetone.it)

• Sagras: in July and August there are numerous outdoor food and dance events featuring local bands in the parks and villages around Lucca. Join the locals for an evening of (very affordable) good food, regional wines and an evening of dancing.

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Activities we can organise for you:

• Painting classes

• Italian cooking

• Massages, Reiki

• Olive picking in November

• Ceramics