GRAPEVINE

MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS

LUCCA

M.U.S.T. (Memoria Urbana Società e Territorio), Via Guinigi 29. Containing audiovisual historical and archaeological display and the Arnaldo Fazzi photographic archives of the city. Currently on display, Paolo Piaggia’s memorabilia from Africa, especially a collection of African masks. Free. Tel. 0583 442916.

Lu.C.C.A. Museum of Contemporary Art, Palazzo Boccella, Via della Fratta 36. Free and paid exhibits. Tel. 0583 571712, www.luccamuseum.com

Domus Romana Lucca, via Cesare Battisti 15. A site from pre-Christian times containing the frieze of the Fanciullo sul Delfino (dolphin rider). Tel. 0583 050060, www.domusromanalucca.it

Villa Guinigi, Via della Quarquonia. €4 (reduced €2, free under 18 and over 65).Tuesdays to Saturdays 8.30am to 7.30pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Tel. 0583 496033.

Torre Guinigi, Via Sant’Andrea 45. €3.50. March 9am to 7pm, April to May 9am to 9pm. June to September 9am to midnight. 16 September to 31 October 9am to 9pm. November to February 9.30am to 6pm. Tel. 0583 3166846.

Palazzo Mansi and Art Gallery, Via Galli Tassi 43. €4 (reduced €2, free under 18 and over 65). Tuesdays to Saturdays 8.30am to 7.30pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Tel. 0583 583461, 0583 55570.

Puccini’s Birthplace, Corte San Lorenzo 9. €7 (reduced €5, free under 10). April to October 10am to 6pm, November to March 11am to 5pm. Closed Tuesdays. Tel. 0583 584028.

Comics, Piazza San Romano 4. €4 (reduced €3). Tuesdays to Sundays 10am to 6pm. Closed Mondays. Tel. 0583 56326.

Cathedral. Tomb of Ilaria commissioned by Paolo Guinigi. Piazza Antelminelli. €4 (reduced €2.50). March 8 to November 2, 10am to 6pm. November 3 to March 5, 10am to 2pm. Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 5pm. Tel. 0583 490530. Alongside is the Cathedral Museum, in via dell’Arcivescovado.

Palazzo Pfanner, Via degli Asili 33. With gardens of Filippo Juvarra (1678-1736) and medical instruments of Dr. Pfanne (mayor 1920-22). Garden and palace € (reduced €3), garden or palace €2.50 (reduced €2). Free for children under 6. March to October 10am to 6pm. 0583 954029.

Palazzo Ducale, Piazza Ducale, Cortile Carrara 1 and Cortile degli Svizzeri. Built in the 1300’s, restored 2001-2005, now site of conferences and the provincial government. Contains the Paolo Cresci Foundation for the History of Italian Emigration. Tel. 0583 417363 for reservations. www.palazzoducale.lucca.it

Museum of the Liberation, via Sant’Andrea 43. World War II history, 1940-1943. Free. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays 3 to 6pm, third Sunday each month 10am to 6pm.

Fondazione Ragghianti, San Micheletto. Art library and occasional exhibits, ancient cloister with gardens.

Botanical Garden, Via del Giardino Botanico 14. With physics laboratory and astronomical observatory. €3 (reduced €2). Open daily Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30am, also from July to 16 September 10am to 7pm. Tel. 0583 442160.

PISA

Leaning Tower. Piazza dei Miracoli. March to October 9am to 7pm, November to February 9.30am to 5pm. april to September 8.30am to 8.30pm. Night visits from 14 June to 15 September, 8.30pm to 11pm. €15. Take the shuttle bus A from Central Station.Tel. 050 910789.

Cathedral. Winter 10am to 12.45 pm, 3pm to 4.45 pm weekdays, 3pm to 4.45pm Sundays and holidays. Autumn, spring and summer 8am to 8pm. €2. Tel. 050 560547.

Baptistry. The biggest in Italy, built in 1153 by Diotisalvi with works by Nicola Pisano. November to February 10am to 4.30pm, March to October 9am to 6.30pm. €5 (reduced €2). Tel. 050 560547.

Monumental cemetary. Works from Etruscan, Latin and Medieval times. November to Februqary 10am to 4.30pm, March to October 9am to 6.30pm. €5 (reduced €2).

Old Ships Museum (archaeological remains found in 1998). Fridays and Saturdays 10am to 12pm, 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Only groups.

Jewish Cemetary. Piazza dei Miracoli, dating to 1648, one of the oldest Hebrew cemeteries in Europe.

Piazza dei Cavalieri. Re-designed by Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century according to the wishes of Cosimo I de Medici, seat of the Knights of St. Stephen. One of the towers contains the jail of Count Ugolino, as recalled by Dante in the Inferno.

Palazzo Blu. Lungarno Gambacorti 9. Free admission. Tuesdays to Fridays 10am to 7pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 8pm. Tel. 050 500197, 050 916950

Museo San Matteo in Soarta (Lungarno Mediceo). €8 (European students and professors, under 18 and over 65 free, students 18 to 25 €4). Tel. 050 541865.

Domus Mazziniani. Tel. 050 24174.

American artist Keith Haring’s (1958-1990) Wall entitled Tuttomondo, at the Sant’Antonio Convent near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. A metaphor for peace and harmony in the world.

VERSILIA

Villa Paolina, Via Machiavelli 2, Viareggio. Built in 1822 for Paolina Buonaparte, contains prehistory museum and art gallery. €2.50 (reduced €1.50), free for children under 14 and teachers. September to June, Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays 4pm to 7pm, July and August, Tuesdays and Saturdays 6pm to midnight.Tel. 0584 4961076.

Carnival Museum and Cittadella del Carnival, Via Santa Maria Goretti, Viareggio. Center for construction of carnival floats. 15 June to 31 August 9pm to 11.30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 4pm to 7pm. tel. 0584 51176.

Bozzetto Museum, Pietrasanta. Plaster casts of sculptures.

Villa Puccini, viale Puccini 266, Torre del Lago Massaciuccoli. Puccini’s home on the lake, filled with memorabilia and open for visits.

Poet Carducci home, Valdicastello.

Giovanni Pascoli home, Barga.

Puccini home, Gello di Pescaglia.