Lucca

Lucca is a Tuscan city of about 89,000 people. It has its own distinct identity and locals are proud of it. The city is completely enclosed by Renaissance-era walls built between 1504 and 1648, which are over 4 kilometers around and wide enough to drive a car on top of (though you're not supposed to).

Unlike Florence, which can feel like an open-air museum run for tourists, Lucca still functions as an actual city where people live, shop on Via Fillungo, and play chess in the piazzas. It's the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini, and opera is genuinely woven into the city's identity. The local cuisine leans simple: ribollita, tordelli (crescent-shaped pasta with ricotta and meat sauce), and buccellato, a sweet ring bread with raisins and anise that you'll find in every bakery window.

Lucca is also famous for its extra virgin olive oil, which locals treat with intense seriousness. And October turns the city into something else entirely when Lucca Comics and Games rolls in.

Say 'Buongiorno' when you walk into any shop, cafe, or restaurant. Not saying it is noticeably rude. Locals greet staff the moment they enter, full stop..

Cappuccino is a morning drink. Order one after 11am and the bar staff will likely serve you without comment, but they'll notice. Espresso is the default after lunch and dinner..

Don't order cheese on seafood pasta. Asking for Parmesan on linguine alle vongole will get you a polite refusal. The answer is no, and the chef is right..

The bill (il conto) will not arrive at your table unless you ask for it. Italians don't rush customers out. Catch the waiter's eye and say 'il conto, per favore' when you're ready..

Check your bill for a 'coperto' charge — that's the cover charge for bread and table service, usually €1.50-3 per person. It is not a tip.

Tipping is not expected but rounding up or leaving small coins for great service is appreciated.. Use the formal 'Lei' when addressing strangers and shop owners you don't know. 'Ciao' is for friends and younger people.

Starting with 'Scusi' (excuse me) before asking a question signals respect.. At bars, ask for a table rather than just sitting down, even if one looks free. Sitting uninvited at what turns out to be a regular's table is a real thing that happens and it gets awkward fast..

Cover shoulders and knees for church visits. This applies to everyone, all year round — not just the big famous churches but the small neighborhood ones too. Carry a light scarf..

Don't walk around eating. Grab a gelato, fine, but full meals and sandwiches should be consumed at the counter or a table, not while wandering the streets.. Validate your train ticket before boarding at the small yellow stamping machines marked 'convalida'.

An unvalidated ticket gets you a fine even if you paid for it.

Lucca is one of the calmer cities in Tuscany. The US State Department rates Italy at Level 2 (exercise increased caution), primarily due to general European terrorism concerns rather than any Lucca-specific threat. Petty crime is the real and practical concern across Italy, not violent crime.

Pickpocketing happens in crowded train stations and at major tourist attractions. Lucca is significantly less problematic than Rome or Florence in this regard — it simply has fewer crowds and fewer professional thieves working them. That said: use a crossbody bag, keep your phone in your front pocket in any crowd, and be especially alert at Lucca Comics & Games in October when the city swells massively.

Rental cars are targeted by thieves across Italy, so never leave anything visible in a parked vehicle. The emergency number is 112. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere.

Watch out for ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato) signs if you drive — the historic center has restricted traffic zones and rental companies have been known to pass fines along to renters weeks after they return home.