What Jean suggest for your visit

Jean has been twice my guest and she really like the area. More she can help you, to explore the villages and find the best for your vacation. I really copy and paste her suggestion, and her mistakes in italian languages are fantastic to read!
Thanks again Jean, and see you soon!
N.B: Please help me to add new suggestions, and if you would like to make something special, please let me know (wedding, painting course, cooking course, horse riding.... I can help you!)

Pescia (pronounced 'Pesha')

· Esselunge Supermarket - extremely good supermarket for all provisions (including DVD's, CD's and mobile phone top-ups)
o Located on the left side of the road, on the road leading to the Autostrada from Pescai
o 2 Euros req'd to obtain trolley (refundable on return)
o Pay for all bags (incl plastic)
o You can also pay for self assembly cardboard boxes to take your shopping away in - these need to be stamped at the Main Enquiry Desk after the cashier has put it through the till and before you start packing it
o You can buy 'top-up' card for mobile phones in the Music Dept, but you need to know the Network (Gloria's phones are TIM). You can buy a range of cards from 5 Euros upwards. When you purchase the card you must dial a number and key in the number (on the Scratch Card) - the staff in the Music Dept will do this for you if req'd…just play 'dumb'
§ Alternatively, go to a Bar or Tobacco Shop and ask for a 'top-up' - they require your mobile number and they enter it in to a machine. Not sure how this works as we did not have the phone number with us!
· Parking
o Turns left over the first bridge and follow the signs for parking (P). There are several car parks (all free) mainly to cater for the nearby hospital.
· Old Town and shops are on the opposite side of the river from the Car Parking (walk back over the bridge, over the road and bear left)
· Garage -on the left hand side coming into Pescia from Lanciole, an attendant will serve you
· Train Station - Turn left at Esselunge supermarket, then 1st right (signed 'Statzione'). Parking outside the train station is usually very busy, could park at the supermarket and walk

Lanciole
· 'Circule' - the villager's club. You can book a meal on a Saturday night (best through Gloria) - not to be missed for 'real Italian experience'.
· The villagers prepare and cook the meal themselves - wonderful
· Very friendly but CANNOT speak English here
· Antipasata, Pizza or Pasta, 1 litre Red wine, 1 litre water - approx 20 Euros for 2 people!
· If there are no tables available you can arrange (via Gloria perhaps) to have a 'takeaway' - 10 Euros for 2 piazzas

Walk from Lanciole
· Head up the hill, past the 'Circule', past the Garage ('Joyau' container outside), past the cemetery
· At a bend in the road there is a left turning (just after a small area planted with holly bushes) - turn left here
· You will come to a small farm, keep going (do not take the turning on the right at the farm)
· Proceed along the lane and you will come to Sorano

Vellano
· Pretty, hilltop village (med size)
o Church tower - currently being restored

Uzzano (Near Pescia)
· Lots of Olive groves & farms in this area
· Large, expensive houses on the road from Vellano to Macchino
· Vellano to Macchion road has good panoramic views over the plain towards Montecarlo

Montecarlo
· Wine region with vineyards where you can purchase wine direct

Castelvecchio
· Nice bar/restaurant with panoramic views ABOVE the village

Macchia
· Woodland Park with small fish lake
· Antonini Macchia restaurant/bar (near the lake) - very rustic and good, nice atmosphere
o You can buy snacks at lunchtime (e.g. panini and parma ham), ice creams etc
o Small church in the woods nearby

Sorano
· Mountain restaurant on a farm - excellent food (all home produced), genuine place. 22 Euros for a set meal incl wine - many courses … so starve beforehand!

Piteglio
· Large 'mountain style' village
o Lovely church
o Panoramic views
o Shop/bank/bar

San Marcello
· Higher 'mountain' town
o More shops & supermarket
o Garage on the road to Piteglio (right turn) off main road - right hand side of road

Zato
· Most unspoilt hamlet ever!
· Good views

Lucchio
· Incredible mountainside town
· Very steep
· Amazing views
· Fort on the tope of the hill above the village. Bear left and upwards
o Amazing location for a picnic
o Downside is a quarry nearby, but this can't be seen from the village


Florence
· Easy to get to by train from Pescia (English speaking at the station)
· There is another station further down the line at Borga a Buggiano (on 435 road from Pescia to Montecatinin Terme) with car parking adjacent (which does not appear to be used much) - not sure how easy it would be to get a ticket there though
· When you buy your train ticket you must put it in the 'Yellow Machine' (to the left when standing at the ticket counter). This clips your ticket and validates it - if you don't and the ticket collect sees you haven't you can be fined 40 Euros!
· 7.5 Euros return (approx)
· 1 hour journey (approx)
· The train comes from Lucca and we had to cross the bridge to catch it
· Get off at 'Firenze SMT' - not 'Firenze Affreido(?) the earlier stop
· You can buy a streetmap (1 Euro) in the Tourist Info shop in the station
· In the station head left to 'Usicta', then down the stairs on the right to the subway.
o .In the subway there are
§ Toilets - 60cents you pay to an attendant
§ Internet café - but you must have your passport with you to use it.
§ Variety of small shops
§ The subway forks - head straight on (right-ish) and you will come up another set of stairs close to all the sights


Lucca - (well worth a visit)

· A roman-mediaeval town - majority of it still intact within the old city wall
· City walls are lined with trees and you can walk (or hire a bike) and cycle/walk around the whole of the city (over 4km)
· 6 gates/doors into the city centre
· The old city (within city walls), outside the walls is a 'green belt' with a stream and then beyond this a 'ring road', beyond this is the 'new' suburbs of the city
· When driving (although you can go by train from Pescia) follow signs to 'Centro' and when you see the 'green belt' and walls find somewhere to park and walk into the old city.

Favourite sights
· Palazzo Ducale
· Piazza San Michele
· Pallzzo Guinigi (tower with trees on top) - you can climb to the top for 3 Euros
· Via dei Fosssi (part from Madonna Dello Stellarion to Villa Buinvisi probably the nicest) - not as impressive as envisaged
· L'Anfiteatro (v lovely)
· San Frediano
· Palazzo Pfanner (good view of this from the walls)
· Duomo di San Martino

Eating Out
· Lots of options
o Osteria Baralla - just off the L'Anfiteatro , simple local food, excellent quality, few seats available outside
o One restaurant on top of the city walls - very good