Lucca: Food Tour with Full Tuscan Meal & Piazza Anfiteatro

Summary

Lucca’s flavors unfold in lively squares and hidden corners

You’ll stroll Lucca’s lively streets with a local guide, tasting Buccellato sweet bread, handmade Tordelli pasta, Cecina street food, cold cuts with wine, plus chocolate for dessert. Along the way you’ll hear stories behind each dish—and feel like you belong in this walled Tuscan city.

What’s the experience like?

"Try saying ‘Buccellato’ with your mouth full," our guide Marta grinned as she handed me a slice of sweet bread, still warm from the bakery on the corner of Piazza San Michele. The square was buzzing—kids darting between old stone columns, someone strumming a guitar off to the side. I’d barely arrived in Lucca and already felt like I’d stumbled into someone’s family gathering. The Buccellato tasted faintly of anise and fruit—comforting, but with this little twist I didn’t expect.

We wandered through narrow streets that seemed to fold around us, sunlight flickering off yellow walls. In Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, Marta paused to tell us how Romans once fought here (she shrugged—"not my kind of show"), then led us to a tiny trattoria for Tordelli. The pasta was soft and packed with herbs and meat; I tried to guess everything inside but gave up after the second bite. There was laughter at our table when someone asked for seconds before finishing their first plate—apparently not unusual on this food tour in Lucca.

I kept catching whiffs of rosemary and garlic as we passed by open kitchen windows—somehow it made me hungrier even after all that pasta. We stopped near Guinigi Tower for cold cuts and a glass of red wine; the cured meats were salty and rich, perfect with the wine’s bite. Marta pointed out locals chatting animatedly with their hands (she said you can tell how good the gossip is by how high their arms go). Cecina came next—crispy edges, soft middle, chickpea flour earthy and simple. I probably ate more than my share but no one seemed to mind.

By the time we reached Via San Paolino for chocolate and dessert, my stomach was full but my head felt lighter somehow. Maybe it was the wine or just being part of something so everyday here. I still think about that first bite of Buccellato sometimes—how it tasted like welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Lucca and taste local dishes

• Start at Lucca’s main square
• Sample Buccellato sweet bread
• Stroll around Piazza Anfiteatro
• Eat Tordelli pasta dish
• Pass by Guinigi Tower
• Enjoy cold cuts with red wine
• Try Cecina chickpea street food
• End with local chocolate dessert

Top questions

What foods are included on this Lucca food tour?

You’ll try Buccellato sweet bread, Tordelli pasta, Cecina street food, local cold cuts with wine, chocolate and a traditional dessert.

Is lunch included on the Lucca food tour?

Yes, lunch is included along with snacks and one alcoholic beverage for adults 18+.

Does the tour include stops at famous Lucca landmarks?

Yes, you’ll visit places like Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and see Guinigi Tower during the walk.

Is bottled water provided during the tour?

Bottled water is included for all guests on this tour.

Can infants or small children join this food tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during the tour.

Will there be a local guide leading the group?

A local food expert will lead your group through Lucca’s culinary highlights.

Are public transportation options nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options available close to where the tour starts.

What’s included

Your day includes guided tastings of Buccellato sweet bread, handmade Tordelli pasta with herbs and meat sauce, Cecina street food fresh from local ovens, platters of Tuscan cold cuts paired with red wine (for adults), plus chocolate and dessert to finish—all alongside bottled water and coffee or tea as you wander Lucca’s historic streets together.