Life in Lucca with Andrea: Recent Episodes
lifeinlucca
Ciao and Welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea
This week I chat to my very special friend, Debbie Charlett, who I actually met here, in Lucca. Debbie is a yoga teacher, and not only has she travelled extensively around Tuscany, amassing a wealth of experience, she also fell in love with Lucca along the way. She has had many an adventure and it’s been great fun sharing some of those adventures with her. In fact, Debbie recently realised her dream and bought an apartment in the historic centre of Lucca. So, whether you’re planning to visit Lucca, or thinking of buying your own apartment, this episode has lots to offer, not just practical advice, but also fun experiences.
Connect with Debbie
If you would like further information, or to enrol on Debbie’s Viniyoga sessions, her contact details are:
M: +44 (0) 7976552481
E: debbie.charlett@ntlworld.com
Debbie’s Recommendations
The Walls, Lucca, walk
Anfiteatro, Lucca, drink or meal
Torre Guinigi, Via Sant’Andrea, 41 Lucca, view
Palazzo Pfanner, Via degli Asili, 33 Lucca, gardens
Villa Reale di Marlia, Villa Reale di Marlia, Via Fraga Alta, 2, Marlia, house and gardens
Boccherini Music School, Piazza del Suffragio, 6 Lucca, an evening concert
Ristorante Il Mecenate, Via del Fosso, 94 Lucca
Pasticceria Meucci, Via Vittorio Veneto, 12 Lucca
Pasticceria Regina, Via Papa Giovanni XXIII, 7 (outside the walls, Porta San Elisa)
Gelateria Veneta, Via Vittorio Veneto, 74
Gelateria and Chocolatier, Caniparoli, Via San Paolino, 44
Favourite Italian word/phrase
Incredibile – Incredible (the Italian pronunciation emphasises the word, making it more powerful)
About the Host
Andrea has travelled the length and breadth of Italy. Having fallen in love with Lucca, she now spends a few months there each year.
Support
If you’ve enjoyed the episode, please support this podcast by buying the equivalent of a coffee or two, if you can, at: ko-fi.com/lifeinlucca your donations really do help.
Subscribe and Review: If you’ve enjoyed listening to Life in Lucca with Andrea it would be lovely if you could take a moment to leave a review and share your comments. You can SUBSCRIBE to the show on the various platforms APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PODCASTS etc...
Sponsor
If you are looking to sponsor the show, please get in touch at: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Connect with me:
If you would like to connect with me, I would be delighted to hear from you, you can find me on:
Website: https://lifeinlucca.podbean.com/ E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca Twitter: @mountains46
Production: Joel at Northern Powerhouse Media www.npmedia.co.uk
Boccherini Music School
Lucca Train Station
Palazzo Pfanner Garden at night
Pasticceria Regina
Ciao and Welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea
In this episode, I meet the Texan born, Vanessa Peters, for the very first time! Discover how, on a study abroad programme in Tuscany back in 2000, Vanessa stumbled by chance, on the then unremarkable City of Lucca, in a guide book, it grabbed her curiosity, and she felt drawn to visit.
Vanessa is a musician, very fitting then that she found, and then chose Lucca, which is renowned for its culture of music, as her base. In fact, the video for her single Crazymaker, taken from the album Modern Age, which came out in February, was filmed in Lucca in December 2020.
Connect with Vanessa
www.vanessapeters.com
Vanessa’s Recommendations
The Walls, Lucca
Torre Guinigi, Via Sant’Andrea, 41
Torre Delle Ore, Via Arancio, 1
San Frediano Basilica, Piazza San Frediano
Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata, Piazza San Giovanni
Gelateria: La Bottega, Via Santa Croce, 87
Gelateria De’Coltelli, Via San Paolino, 10
Pasticceria: Meucci, Via Vittorio Veneto, 12
Pasticceria: Regina, Via Papa Giovanni XXIII, 7 (outside the walls, Porta San Elisa)
Pasticceria/Bar: Tiffany, Via Gaetano Luporini, 1054 (outside the walls, Porta Sant’Anna)
Ristorante: Osteria Baralla, Via dell’Anfiteatro, 9
Ristorante: Osteria Dal Manzo, Via Cesare Battisti, 28
Favourite Italian Word/Phrase
Insomma, in short/to sum things up (a gap word)
Ormai, by now/at this point (something has changed so we’ll do it later/reschedule
About the Host
Andrea has travelled the length and breadth of Italy. Having fallen in love with Lucca, she now spends a few months there each year.
Support
If you’ve enjoyed the episode, please support this podcast by buying the equivalent of a coffee or two, if you can, at: ko-fi.com/lifeinlucca your donations really do help.
Subscribe and Review: If you’ve enjoyed listening to Life in Lucca with Andrea it would be lovely if you could take a moment to leave a review and share your comments. You can SUBSCRIBE to the show on the various platforms APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PODCASTS etc...
Sponsor
If you are looking to sponsor the show, please get in touch at: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Connect with me:
If you would like to connect with me, I would be delighted to hear from you, you can find me on:
Website: https://lifeinlucca.podbean.com/ E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca Twitter: @mountains46
Production: Joel at Northern Powerhouse Media www.npmedia.co.uk
Artwork: Massive thanks to Helen Wood
Lucca’s Water Fountains
Meucci la Pasticceria
Vanessa the Musician
Gelateria La Bottega
Ciao and Welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea!
My guest this week is Debora Del Sonno, a one hundred per cent true Lucchese, she not only lives in Lucca, but she was born here too. Debora is a private real estate agent and takes great pride in finding each client the perfect property, whether it be a permanent residence, or a short or long-term rental. In fact, she was the first person to offer holiday rentals in the historic centre more than 20 years ago. Debora exudes great warmth and she is on a mission to share her passion for her city of birth, with guests and visitors alike. What a treat!
Connect with Debora
www.luccaholidayhomes.it
www.deboradelsonno.it
E: luccahh@gmail.com
F: www.facebook.com/luccahike
F: www.facebook.com/deboradelsonno
L: www.linkedin.com/in/deboradelsonno
Debora’s Recommendations
The Walls, Lucca
The Guinigi Tower
Camaiore, a city within the province of Lucca
Barga, a medieval town within the province of Lucca
Montecarlo, a village in the province of Lucca
Pietrasanta, a medieval town known for its artistic tradition, in the province of Lucca
Ristorante Il Giglio, Piazza Il Giglio, 2 Lucca
Trattoria Buca di Sant’Antonio, Via della Cervia, 3 Lucca
Ristorante Gli Orti, Via Elisa, 17 Lucca
Pasticceria Sandra & L’Angolo Dolce, Via Borgo Giannotti, 391, Lucca
Gelateria Cremeria Opera, Via Borgo Giannotti, 42, Lucca
Gelateria Veneta, Via Vittorio Veneto, 74
Gelateria De’Coltelli, Via San Paolino, 10
Gelateria and Chocolatier, Caniparoli, Via San Paolino, 44
Gelateria Theobroma Capolavori di Dolcezza, Via Guglielmo Marconi, 16/18 Barga
Favourite Italian word/phrase
Ti voglio bene – more than I like you but less than I love you/a positive affirmation, similar to Namaste/a spoken hug
About the Host
Andrea has travelled the length and breadth of Italy. Having fallen in love with Lucca, she now spends a few months there each year.
Support
If you’ve enjoyed the episode, please support this podcast by buying the equivalent of a coffee or two, if you can, at: ko-fi.com/lifeinlucca your donations really do help.
Subscribe and Review: If you’ve enjoyed listening to Life in Lucca with Andrea it would be lovely if you could take a moment to leave a review and share your comments. You can SUBSCRIBE to the show on the various platforms APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PODCASTS etc...
Sponsor
If you are looking to sponsor the show, please get in touch at: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Connect with me:
If you would like to connect with me, I would be delighted to hear from you, you can find me on:
Website: https://lifeinlucca.podbean.com/ E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca Twitter: @mountains46
Production: Joel at Northern Powerhouse Media www.npmedia.co.uk
Artwork: Massive thanks to Helen Wood
Pasticceria Sandra
Pietrasanta
Ristorante Gli Orti
Ristorante Il Giglio
Ciao and Welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea!
This week I interview Debra Kolkka. From Australia to Bagni di Lucca, her travels and experiences around Italy have led her to create two extremely successful blogs, Bella Bagni di Lucca and Bagni di Lucca and Beyond, both blogs are read and admired around the globe. Debra is a fountain of knowledge, the eyes for those unable to visit, and also those who want a taste of the Italian lifestyle from their armchairs.
Connect with Debra - Blogs
Bella Bagni di Lucca - https://bellabagnidilucca.com
Bagni di Lucca and Beyond – https://bagnidilucca.blog
Debra’s Recommendations
The Walls, Lucca
Anfiteatro, Lucca
Guinigi Tower, Lucca at sunset
Bistrot Paris Boheme, Piazza Cittadella, 6 Lucca
Eremo di Calomino, 5 Fabbriche di Vergemoli, Lucca. A Hermitage set in the cliff face with a restaurant
Ristorante Circolo dei Forestieri, Piazza Jean Varraud, 10 Bagni di Lucca
Ristorante del Sonno, Viale Umberto 1, 146/148 Bagni di Lucca
Pasticceria, Café and Bar, Bar Italia, Piazza Ponte a Serraglio, 8 Bagni di Lucca
Pasticceria and Café, Catene Café, Via Papa Giovanni XXIII, 13, Fornoli, Bagni di Lucca
Gelateria, Fuori del Centro, Via del Brennero, 9 Chifenti near Bagni di Lucca
Favourite Italian word/phrase
Siamo in Italia – We are in Italy (so what do you expect!)
About the Host
Andrea has travelled the length and breadth of Italy. Having fallen in love with Lucca, she now spends a few months there each year.
Sponsor
If you are looking to sponsor the show, please get in touch at: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Subscribe and Review: If you’ve enjoyed listening to Life in Lucca with Andrea it would be lovely if you could take a moment to leave a review and share your comments. You can SUBSCRIBE to the show on the various platforms APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PODCASTS etc...
If you’ve enjoyed the episode, please support me by buying me a coffee, if you can, at;
ko-fi.com/lifeinlucca it really does help!
Connect with me:
If you would like to connect with me, I would be delighted to hear from you, you can find me on:
Website: https://lifeinlucca.podbean.com/ E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca Twitter: @mountains46
Production: Joel at Northern Powerhouse Media www.npmedia.co.uk
Artwork: Massive thanks to Helen Wood
Anfiteatro Lucca
Bar Italia, Ponte a Serraglio, Bagni di Lucca
Lucca Walls
Ponte Catene - Chain Bridge, Fornoli, Bagni di Lucca
In this episode I meet the infectiously enthusiastic, Paola Moschini. When I asked Paola to send me some background information before the interview, this is what she wrote:
These are five things you should know before hiring me as your tour guide: I love coffee, pizza and gelato, I would never say no to a stop in a bar or in an ice cream place, so in the meantime I can tell you why Saint Michael’s church has dragons, mermaids and more on its façade; I can speak fluently in Italian and English; I like to start my day running on Lucca city walls or with a good balancing yoga session, maybe we can do a running tour together?; When I have some free time, you can find me in a bookstore; People say I always smile, my goal is to see you smiling and laughing during the whole tour.
I couldn’t have summed Paola up any better myself. I have known Paola for around 8 years, she is one of the loveliest people I know, and what she doesn’t know about Lucca, you could write on the back of a postage stamp!
Connect with Paola
W: www.paolamoschini.com
E: info@paolamoschini.com
Instagram: @pmoschini
Facebook: @paolamoschinilucca
Paola’s Recommendations:
The Walls
Ristorante Il Giglio, Piazza del Giglio, 2
Pizzeria Mare Meo, Piazza San Francesco, 17
Osteria del Manzo, Via Cesare Battista, 28
Pasticceria Pinelli, Via Beccheria, 28
Buccellato Taddeucci, Piazza San Michele, 34
Pasticceria Dianda, Via del Rosa, 9
Gelateria Veneta, Via Vittorio Veneto, 74
Gelateria Cremeria Opera, Via Borgo Giannotti, 42
De’ Coltelli, Via San Paolino, 10
Villa Reale di Marlia, Via Fraga Alta, 2, Marlia, by bike or car
Viareggio, seaside, by train 20 minutes or by car 30 minutes
The Garfagnana, situated in the province of Lucca. The principal towns are Castelnuovo and Barga. Some parts of the Garfagnana can be reached by train, but a car is recommended to take in its beauty.
Favourite Italian word/phrase
Prego – You're welcome/never mind/here you are/sure/of course
About the Host
Andrea has travelled the length and breadth of Italy. Having fallen in love with Lucca, she now spends a few months there each year.
Subscribe and Review: If you’ve enjoyed listening to Life in Lucca with Andrea it would be lovely if you could take a moment to leave a review and share your comments. You can SUBSCRIBE to the show on the various platforms APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PODCASTS etc...
If you’ve enjoyed the episode, please support me by buying me a coffee, if you can, at;
ko-fi.com/lifeinlucca it really does help!
Connect with me:
If you would like to connect with me, I would be delighted to hear from you, you can find me on:
Website: https://lifeinlucca.podbean.com/ E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca Twitter: @mountains46
Production: Joel at Northern Powerhouse Media www.npmedia.co.uk
Artwork: Massive thanks to Helen Wood
Buccellato Taddeucci
Osteria del Manzo
Paola the Tour Guide
Mura di Lucca Parkrun
Ciao, and welcome to Life in Lucca with Andrea!
In this episode I meet the lovely Jo O’Rourke, whom I’d met just twice before the interview. I felt an immediate connection with Jo when I met her at English Mondays in Lucca, and was delighted when she agreed to be interviewed for this podcast, and share her Italian adventures. Jo has a rich experience of living, working, and travelling around Italy. At the time of recording, Jo had lived in Lucca for just 4 months. Jo is an online English and comms trainer.
Jo’s Recommendations:
Ice cream and sorbet: Caniparoli, Via San Paolino, 44
Pizza: Itaco, Via San Paolino, 58
Food and/or drink, with outside seating: Pult, Via Fillungo, 42
Things to see and do: Lucca Walls and the Botanic Gardens
Favourite Italian word/phrase
Fa ridere i polli – it makes the chickens laugh (when something is ridiculous)
About the Host
Andrea has travelled the length and breadth of Italy. Having fallen in love with Lucca, she now spends a few months there each year.
Subscribe and Review: If you’ve enjoyed listening to Life in Lucca with Andrea it would be lovely if you could take a moment to leave a review and share your comments. You can SUBSCRIBE to the show on the various platforms APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PODCASTS etc...
If you’ve enjoyed the episode, please support me by buying me a coffee, if you can, at ko-fi.com/lifeinlucca it really does help!
Connect with me:
If you would like to connect with me, I would be delighted to hear from you, you can find me on:
E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca Twitter: @mountains46 Website: https://lifeinlucca.podbean.com/
Production: Joel at Northern Powerhouse Media www.npmedia.co.uk
Artwork: Massive thanks to Helen Wood
Pult cafe/bar
Guinigi Tower
Caniparoli Gelateria and Chocolate shop
Pizzeria Itaco
Join me as I explore what it's like to visit and live in Lucca. In a series of fascinating interviews, my guests reveal the real Lucca, and the hidden gems that they have discovered.
Connect with me:
If you would like to connect with me, I would be delighted to hear from you, you can find me on:
Website: https://lifeinlucca.podbean.com/ E:mail: lifeinlucca@hotmail.com
Instagram: andreas_life_in_lucca Twitter: @mountains46
Production: Joel at Northern Powerhouse Media www.npmedia.co.uk
Artwork: Massive thanks to Helen Wood
Ever thought about travelling to Italy and not sure where to go? Well, this podcast has the answer - Lucca! Excellently positioned, its neighbours include Florence, Pisa and the coastal resort of Viareggio. My guests will intrigue and delight you with their experiences of travelling to, and living in Lucca. Subscribe to Life in Lucca with Andrea now and each episode will magically appear in your podcast library.