Dear Italy experts

As I have written in earlier posts, my fiancee and I are getting married in Lucca May 15. We have the ceremony (noon) and the dinner covered by now - but we would like to find an idyllic spot for a small "reception" (light lunch/snacks and a few glasses of spumante or the like) in the vicinity of Lucca (preferably no more than 20 minutes drive from the city). We are not looking for anything big or fancy - just a nice, not-expensive place where we and our guests (26 all in all) can have a light lunch in a relaxed atmosphere. Outdoor serving and a beautiful view would definitely be a plus

Can anyone reccomend such a place?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Lena

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

I believe that the Villa Grabau and the Villa Mansi are both available for wedding parties (both about 15 km from Lucca--I'm not sure of the details or the costs, but it's something to check out! I can always ask my friend (who has arranged weddings in the area) what he knows about it, if you like. One of them is supposed to have a particularly beautiful Lemon Garden... Grabau I think. Though the Lemonry at Villa Reale was also quite wonderful.

Sonia

Villa Grabau's lemon garden is lovely; it's up some steps from the patio at the rear of the house, so very private, and more than adequate for a party of 26, although my impression is that it might be quite expensive; I don't know. Another possibility is Vipore, about the same distance in a slightly different direction north of Lucca. They have a lovely outside terrace overlooking the Lucca plain. Just up the road is another lovely restaurant (also in Pieve Santo Stefano) which is very popular locally, and perhaps Sonia's friend will remember the name (begins with an M?), less expensive, but delicious food. There were a number of families and friends there with ultra long tables celebrating birthdays and weddings. Maybe the name will come to me later; it's not in my trip folders. Because it is less famous than Vipore (and doesn't have a terrace per se) it would likely be more reasonably priced.

Carol-do you mean Ristorante La Mora in Sesto a Moriano, North of Lucca? That's the only "M" restaurant that immediately springs to my mind in the area (though I expect there must be a zillion of 'em!). We had a great dinner there, the service was incredible.

I have to write to Philip later on, I'll see if he has anything to suggest!

Sonia

Sonia, I didn't mean La Mora, although we have eaten there & I agree it was fantastic. In case the other name doesn't come to me, I have e-mailed a Lucca friend to ask her, and will post it when she responds.

Aha! Found it, thanks to Bill Thayer's Google search being the beginning of all knowledge! It's Lombardo (was I thinking Milano for the M?) and Lena, you can find the google page here.

If it were me, I'd have my reception as a picnic up on the walls...one of the grassed/shaded spots with stunning views.

I'd have our favourite Tavola Calda Rosticeria, "Il Borgo" on the right hand side of Via D. Borgo Giannotti, pack a picnic. This street is outside the walls, on the far side of a roundabout (there is a footway under the road) outside the gate at Piazza S.Maria. It is only a hundred meters up the street. They do absolutely sensational hot and cold dishes...we bought a number of containers of salad (the farro and prawn/shrimp salad was sensational), a bottle of wine and picnicked on the walls listening to the live Jamiroquai concert in July.

"If it isn't true, it's to the point"
Italian Proverb

Ooh, I LOVE Gavin's idea. That sounds absolutely incredible!

Sonia
(adding "Il Borgo" to my list for next time!)

A neat idea -- a long way from the elegant settings aforementioned, but Il Borgo has good food for a picnic. Lena can think about the formality she wants. Il Cuore, which has a catering business as well as a store, is between the Piazza Napoleone and the Piazza San Martino, is more upscale than Il Borgo, and is considered the best already prepared food in Lucca. Again a question of style and cost.

I like the catered picnic idea too. I have friends in Lucca and Pisa and they mentioned
The Gazebo restaurant at the Locanda l'Elisa
hotel. The hotel (once a villa residence) is in a park like setting with gardens and lake and would also be a great place for photos. It is very near Lucca.

Another idea, time permitting, is to take the 20-minute train ride to Viareggio and eat at one of the fantastic seafood restaurants there. If this idea appeals, I'm sure Slow Travelers will have restaurant suggestions. Last year on that weekend there was a world-class bicycle race, which crowded the town, but normally at that time of year it wouldn't be crowded. It's a favorite outing for the Lucchesi on a Saturday or Sunday.

Forgot to say that on our first visit to Lucca six years ago, we witnessed a wedding party,just as Gavin describes, on the walls. It was a lovely Sunday afternoon and the city was relatively empty except for the Lucchese on their bikes and a few tourists. Did you mention the location of your wedding? It could be a bit tricky getting everyone into the city if your ceremony is outside the walls. We were there again in late October and parking was
horrendous. Needless to say, Lucca has been discovered.

Wow - this is so great!
I am really grateful for all your help! I think all your suggestions sound wonderful, although I do suspect the Villa Grabau is too expensive for our budget.
Actually I have previously considered the picnic-option and think it would fit right into the atmosphere I'm dreaming of - but what about the weather? Isn't it rather "unstable" that time of the year? Rain and a weddingdress is probably not the best combination
I will definitely look into all your suggestions - and if anyone can come up with more, please do so

By the way: we are getting married at Lucca townhall (which I think is in the center of town) and we have cars for transportation

[This message was edited by Lucca on 23 January 2003 at 10:40 AM.]

If it rains, there are a number of covered sections of the walls....enough for 50 or so to shelter comfortably.

"If it isn't true, it's to the point"
Italian Proverb