Lucca - A charming attic apartment for rent overlooking the city's famous Roman amphitheatre. Set in the bustling centre of this ancient city, the holiday apartment sleeps up to three, and makes a great launching point for exploring Tuscany and central Italy.

Spend your Tuscan vacation in this charming apartment overlooking Lucca's famous Roman amphitheatre.

La Mansarda Anfiteatro is in the historical heart of Lucca. It lies in the Piazza Anfiteatro and near Via Fillungo - Lucca's main street, full of shops and boutiques. The apartment is built into the very walls of the ancient Roman amphitheatre, and the building was erected in the second century BC. It has a remarkable history, being used as a prison in the Middle Ages, before being restructured in 1830 by the famous architect Lorenzo Nottolini.

The apartment sits at the very top of the amphitheatre. This was once the centre of the market in Lucca; today it is a piazza lined with bars, cafes and shops. You'll find the apartment very comfortable, furnished in typical cosy Tuscan style and being ideal for two to three guests.

Though tucked under the eaves it is very bright thanks to the two large skylights, which offer breathtaking glimpses over the square and upon the characteristic Lucchesi roofs. La Mansarda has a small but fully fitted kitchen, a bathroom with a shower and a sitting room comprising a table with six chairs, a cupboard, two wardrobes, a sofa bed with orthopaedic base, an armchair bed, a TV set and air conditioning. In fact this apartment has all the facilities you need to make it a home from home.

If you're a first-time visitor to this lovely mediaeval city then you're in for a marvellous surprise. One of the major Tuscan cities along with Florence, Siena and Pisa, it is a lot quieter and less 'touristy' than its neighbours. Arguably the most graceful of the Tuscan provincial capitals, it sits within enormous mediaeval fortified walls. These once defended the old city state of Lucca against the martial ambitions of Siena and the like, they now give marvellous views of both the old town within, and the newer town and countryside outside. Enormously wide and dotted with huge plane trees, they are well-used by joggers and cyclists. Atop the walls you'll find parks (this is a great spot for a picnic beneath the trees' shade on a summer's day), and they are also home to the town's botanic gardens.

Step down from the walls into Lucca and you realise the pedestrian comes before the car in this city. With the town's streets following a pattern far older than the mediaeval fabric of Lucca (they keep to the grid laid out by the Romans when they first developed the city in 180BC) that's probably a good thing, as the streets are narrow, winding and without pavements!

The whole city is a jumble of churches (there were once 70), Renaissance palazzi, piazzas and unexpected alleyways. There are terrific pizzerias, restaurants, bars, chic shops and the Duomo - the city's cathedral. And of course there is the Amphitheatre. Rarely will you get the chance to stay in an apartment more than 2000 years old, and this holiday flat puts you at the ancient heart of this important city.

[ View on Google Map | map of Tuscany ]

With the circumference of the walls being less than two miles, you get an idea of how much is squeezed within a tiny area.With the car relegated to second place, most Lucchese choose to travel round their city by bicycle. We recommend you hire yourself a bike, it's the ideal way to explore the town.

Check in is on Saturdays from 3pm until 6pm, with departure by 10am on Saturday. Shorter stays are available with the minimum stay three nights. Included in your rental are linen and towels for one week, water, gas, electricity and final cleaning. At reservation you will be asked for a 35 per cent deposit, to be made by money transfer. You may cancel your reservation up to 30 days before arrival. The remainder of the bill should be paid on arrival. Please note that your hosts don't accept credit cards.

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