If you're in Pisa on the 24th/25th of March then you can see in Pisa's second (or first, if you're a patriotic local) New Year.
The tradition dates back to the glory days of Pisa as a mighty maritime republic and, in an Indiana Jones moment, the new year is said to begin when a sunbeam breaks through a specially placed window in the cathedral, lighting up a precisely positioned marble egg.

Cue lots of kissing, medieval costumes, marching, flag throwing and carousing. The main venue is clearly the cathedral, framed as it is by the Leaning Tower and the splendid baptistry in the 'Field Of Miracles'.

The tower, alongside the cathedral, finally free of all scaffolding and gleamingly white as of early 2011, may be ascended and you can book at the official site or use the second site below if you'd like to book for a date further in the future than allowed on the official site.


boxoffice.opapisa.it/Torre/first.jsp
www.tickitaly.com/tickets/leaning-tower-pisa-tickets.php

Duomo di Pisa, Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa, Tuscany
Google map: bit.ly/hlM9oY

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A series of open-air concerts in Lucca, Tuscany each July, the main 'venue' being Piazza Napoleone, also known as Piazza Grande.
For such a small, albeit perfectly formed, town, this event has attracted some big names over the years - Oasis, Paul Simon, David Bowie, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Alanis Morrisette, Black Eyed Peas, James Brown - to name a few, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Concerts usually begin at around 9pm; it's still warm, and the main square is closed off from early evening. During concerts most of the bars and shops around the square remain open, and the majority of the events are standing only - but not all.

The official website is notoriously late in announcing the lineup, but for 2008 some names are confirmed already - Sheryl Crow, Leonard Cohen, Alicia Keys, Chicago, Erykah Badu and Mick Hucknall. The latter is a fixture by now, be it as himself or Simply Red. Elton John is also a frequent visitor. It's rare for tickets to sell out, so you can usually be sure of showing up and buying on the day, but the official site also explains how to get tickets.

Below are some links - the official site, a blog post about the 2008 festival, and our favourite site for Lucca hotels:

www.summer-festival.com/
blog.ahotelinitaly.com/italy/2008/03/18/lucca-festival-2008-new-concerts/
www.ahotelinitaly.com/italy/hotels/tuscany/lucca/lucca/

Lucca, Tuscany, Italy - main venue is Piazza Napoleone, inside the famous city walls.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If you're taking a stroll (La Passegiatta - you'd better be expensively dressed) along the promenade at Viareggio, you absolutely must try some of the (takeaway only) pizza from La Rusticanella.

If you're walking from the south side, the harbour (darsena), then you've gone too far if you reach the gap in the front and the clock tower - it's just before there. Easy to miss, it's small and usually has a large crowd outside. Fight your way to the front, see what's available and order by the portion. Specialities include the potato pizza, the margherita is splendid, but my all time favourite is the onion pizza (cipolla).

A glass of beer from one of the bars to the right (they own the seating outside, but as long as you buy drinks you're welcome to eat your pizza there) and you're sorted. Not to be missed!

Viale Margherita 80
Viareggio (on the promenade)

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It's the tower with the tree on top! One of the most recognisable landmarks within the walls of Lucca. Well worth the climb for views from the top.

Via S.Andrea – 55100 Lucca
Tel 0583 316846
Winter opening: daily 9.00 – 17.30
Summer opening: daily 9.00 – 20.00
October opening: daily 10.00 – 18.00

Lucca hotels - www.ahotelinitaly.com/italy/hotels/tuscany/lucca/lucca/

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

I'm a fairly regular visitor to Florence and have, over the years, built up a shortlist of my favourite places to stay. However, on my last trip, I happened to be in town at the same time as a large convention at Fortezzo da Basso; my shortlist was no use - I had to find somewhere new, which is how I came to be staying at Hotel Relais Il Cestello.

It's located on the south bank of the Arno, a short walk from both the centre and one of my favourite getway places, the Boboli Gardens (must write a tip about them one of these days). The only downside was no dedicated parking, but that's not so unusual in the centre of Florence, and you can get special rates at some nearby garages.

The hotel was a pleasant mix of old and new and has been well restored. Staff were friendly, not always a given in Florence, and gave me a great restaurant tip.
Not much more to say really - pricing was reasonable, and it's featured on my usual booking site for Italian hotels.

www.ahotelinitaly.com/hotel-relais-il-cestello-florence/
www.relaisilcestello.it/

Piazza di Cestello 9, 50124, Firenze

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

No, really. Clearly most people aren't visiting Florence to watch films in English, but should you be rained-off, or feel the onset of Stendahl's syndrome, then this splendid little cinema in the middle of town might be just the thing.

The interior is spotless and well-appointed, and the domed-ceiling is a gem. They don't make them like this anymore. Check the schedules - there are usually 2 or 3 foreign (read English) language films per week.

Piazza Strozzi 2, Florence
www.cinehall.it

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

An unusual hotel in Verona, lying right by the river and just a short walk from the Arena. If you've not been before it's a bit tricky to find, hiding as it does behind a large set of doors (drive through these for private parking shaded by a pergola), but once inside you'll find an interesting building with a splendid communal area downstairs. We loved our stay, and this is very much a 'boutique' hotel.

They do have their own site, but we preferred to book online at the site below, useful for the Google map aside from anything else.

www.ahotelinitaly.com/residence-antico-san-zeno-verona/

www.residencesanzenoverona.it/

Tel. + 39 045 59 77 21

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends