Lucca Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips

Lucca Shopping

The ancient walled city of Lucca remains one of the most visited places in Florence. There’s lots to see including wonderful markets that offer fabulous local goods at a great price.

In general, shopping in Lucca is divided between formal stores and open air markets. Both types of shopping offer something special. Be aware that during the winter, shops open later and close earlier. Many shops will also close for an hour during the day to allow the owner to grab lunch. There are also markets that will run only on certain days. These markets offer small selling a variety of local goods. For example, every Wednesday and Sunday you will find a market at the Via dei Bacchettoni, between Porta Elisa and Porta San Jacopo inside the wall during the morning. Many items are less expensive than you might find in the rest of the city. The market offers lots of local delicacies as well as lightweight clothing that makes the ideal gift to bring home.

Shopping Streets

Several streets here make the center of the shopping in the area. The Via Filungo offers many luxurious shops offering high end Italian goods from some of the finest names in the world. Leather goods are a particular specialty here. You can often pick up a leather handbag, belt or wallet for much cheaper than you might find elsewhere. There’s also a Benetton outlet offering the world famous designer label at vastly reduced prices. Another good place to go for fine leather goods is the Via San Paolino where you can find lots of handbags that are made by fine artisans who use age old techniques to craft elegantly modern items. You can also pick up locally made ceramics in popular vivid patterns that are easy to store in your suitcase. Be aware that if you are visiting on a Monday, many shops here will be closed so plan accordingly if you love to shop.

Food Items

While leather goods are often a great bargain here, you can also find other kinds of tempting items. Like many other places in Italy, Lucca is a city of fabulous foods. Several bakeries offer fresh bread each day as well as items such as pastries. The region is also noted for producing great olive oil. Look for small jars of fresh virgin oil. Many are flavored with locally grown herbs, giving them a fragrance that is apparent the second you open the jar. Oregano and pepper are popular flavors. Try the buccellato. This is local cake that is flavored with both raisins and anise. It is sold fresh with a soft texture. It can also be stored at your hotel room for a few days, making it an ideal snack or a light breakfast. Giurlani’s sells them to happy crowds all during the day.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about shopping in Lucca.