Santa Maria Del Giudice, Lucca
It
is possible to never leave the village as there is everything provided
for daily living. In the morning the locals go the local pasticceria
and bar to have freshly baked dolce or paste ( croissants, cakes and
pastries) with cappuccino of course!
A stroll from Il Gelsomino takes you to a choice of 3 grocers selling local produce, a butcher, a post office and newsagent, a chemist plus 3 hairdressers! There are also 2 very good supermarkets only 10 minutes by car. If you are interested in the local Italian cuisine, then within 5 minutes walk from Il Gelsomino there are 3 excellent restaurants serving pizza and typical Tuscan cooking, plus fresh fish of the day. Of course there are numerous trattorias and restaurants in the area of Lucca, Florence and Pisa which the owners would be happy to recommend and book.
Santa Maria Del Giudice offers a taste of Tuscan village life with the sounds of children playing, neighbours chatting and church bells ringing. In August there is the Sagra Della Zuppa ( Feast of soup) in a field behind the apartment, a popular event enjoyed by all ages, with dancing and music under the stars. There are 2 communal outdoor swimming pools close by plus tennis, golf and horse riding all within 25 minutes drive away towards the Versilian coast.
Although there are local hourly buses to Lucca and Pisa, and a taxi service in Lucca, we do recommend hiring a car as it will offer you more freedom and choice of where to explore.