Altopascio · Lucca · Tuscany
Area attractions
From the house you can reach Lucca, Pisa, Florence, the hill towns and the sea for day trips. Distances are from Casal Sant'Elena.
Starts at our door
Via Francigena
The ancient pilgrims’ way to Rome passes through Altopascio: two scenic stages start from Casal Sant’Elena.
2km from the house
DiscoverFilter by type
Towns24 kmLucca
The walled medieval city 24 km from the house: Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, the walls promenade, the Summer Festival and Lucca Comics & Games.
Towns9 kmMontecarlo
A walled medieval hill town among vineyards, only 9 km from the house.
Towns45 kmPisa
The Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli, about 45 km and 45 minutes from the house.
Towns59 kmFlorence
The cradle of the Renaissance, 59 km from the house: the Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, the Cathedral and the view from Piazzale Michelangelo.
Families16 kmCollodi, Pinocchio Park
Pinocchio Park, the Garzoni Garden and the Butterfly House in Collodi, 16 km from the house.
Towns15 kmMontecatini Terme
Spa towns of Tuscany: Montecatini Terme, 15 km from the house, plus San Giuliano Terme and Casciana Terme.
Towns24 kmPiaggio Museum, Pontedera
The Vespa and Piaggio collection in Pontedera, 24 km from the house, on the way to Pisa.
Towns28 kmAnchiano (Vinci), birthplace of Leonardo
Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace in Anchiano, near Vinci, 28 km from the house.
Towns29 kmPistoia
Italian Capital of Culture 2017, 29 km east of the house: churches, palaces, Piazza della Sala and the Pistoia Blues Festival.
Towns70 kmSan Gimignano
The town of towers, 70 km from the house: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vernaccia wine and olive oil.
Towns68 kmVolterra
Alabaster, Etruscan and Roman remains and medieval palaces, 68 km from the house.
Towns100 kmSiena
Siena and its Palio, 100 km south of the house; the historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
SeasideThe sea
The Tuscan coast: Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia, Castiglioncello, the white beaches of Vada and the Versilia.
Photo credits: Serendip, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Montecarlo hilltop town with its tower at dusk) · Mongolo1984, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (The blue horse statue at the Pinocchio Park in Collodi) · Michela.osteri, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (The colonnade and fountain of the Terme Tettuccio in Montecatini Terme) · Graeme Maclean, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Row of vintage Vespas at the Museo Piaggio in Pontedera) · Mongolo1984, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (The stone house in Anchiano where Leonardo da Vinci was born) · Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Palazzo Comunale on Piazza del Duomo, Pistoia) · Zairon, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Piazza del Campo in Siena seen from the Torre del Mangia)
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Olive oil and wine
Olive oil and wine around Lucca
Around Casal Sant'Elena the plain gives way to hills of olive groves and vineyards. A short guide to what grows here, when to come and how to visit.
DiscoverWhen to come
The pool is open from 15 June to 15 September.
In April, May, June, September and October the average maximum stays between about 18 and 26 °C: comfortable weather for walking the Via Francigena stages and for visiting Lucca, Pisa and Florence. July and August are the hottest and driest months, with average maximums around 29 °C, good for alternating day trips and the pool. October and November get the most rain.
| Month | Minimum to maximum | Min | Max | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.2° | 11.4° | 8 | |
| Feb | 2.5° | 12.6° | 7 | |
| Mar | 4.4° | 15.2° | 8 | |
| Apr | 7.2° | 17.8° | 10 | |
| May | 10.7° | 22.2° | 7 | |
| Jun | 14.1° | 26.0° | 5 | |
| Jul | 16.7° | 29.4° | 3 | |
| Aug | 17.2° | 29.5° | 4 | |
| Sep | 14.3° | 25.7° | 6 | |
| Oct | 10.7° | 20.9° | 9 | |
| Nov | 6.1° | 15.3° | 9 | |
| Dec | 3.4° | 11.8° | 9 |