You can not visit Lucca without enjoying its cuisine and its wines. It’s actually  possible to organise real food and wine tours, to discover the traditional tastes and flavors of Lucca.

Typical dishes of Lucca’s cuisine are soups, “farinate” and tortelli, accompanied by excellent wines. It’s not a coincidence that the province of Lucca is crossed by the Wine and Oil Road, which embraces the hills of Lucca, Montecarlo, Versilia and Valle del Serchio. 

Among the typical desserts, we have “torta coi becchi” - a round shortcrust pastry cake filled with  vegetables, chocolate or amaretti - and the buccellato, which has received numerous awards, including the review of Mimi Sheraton, the famous food critic of the New York Times, who included it in her book "1000 Foods to Eat Before You Die".

Originally the buccellato had the shape of a donut, while today it often has a straight shape, similar to a loaf of bread. It is prepared with anise seeds and raisins, and consumed especially at breakfast.

A famous local saying reads: "Who comes to Lucca and does not eat the buccellato, has never really been here".
Those who love local typical products should not miss "Il Desco", a food and wine event held every year between November and December in the historic centre of Lucca, where tastes and local traditions are the main protagonists. During the event, it’s possible to attend pleasant tastings, seminars, cooking shows and even workshops for children.