Guidebook: Having a Look Around Lucca

Getting there: Connecting service from LAX to Florence, the gateway to Lucca, is on Lufthansa, Delta, KLM, Alitalia, Swissair and Air France. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $690.

Telephones: To call the numbers below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 39 (country code for Italy), 0 and the local number.

The villas: Villa Reale is 41/2 miles from Lucca. Tours at 10 and 11 a.m. and noon, 3, 4, 5 and 6 p.m. March-November. Closed Mondays. Admission (gardens only): $5.25. Villa Reale, Marlia, Capannori; 583-30108.

Villa Grabau is near Villa Reale. The villa and gardens are open 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. Easter to Nov. 1. Closed Mondays and Tuesday mornings. Admission: $3.70 for gardens, $4.80 for gardens and villa. Villa Grabau, San Pancrazio, Lucca; 583-406-325, https://www.island.pisa.it/grabau/grabauuk.htm.

Villa Oliva is about 41/2 miles from Lucca. Gardens are open daily, 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. March 15-Nov. 15. Admission: $3.60. Villa Oliva, San Pancrazio, Lucca; 583-406-462, fax 583-406-771, https://www.villaoliva.it.

Villa Torrigiani is about six miles from Lucca. Open 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. and 3-7:30 p.m. March 1-Nov. 12. Closed Tuesdays. Admission: gardens $4.50, house and gardens $6.75. Villa Torrigiani, Camigliano, Capannori; tel./fax 583-928-041.

For more information: Lucca Information Center, 35 Piazza Santa Maria, Lucca 55100; 583-491-205, fax 583-469-964.

Italian Government Tourist Board, 12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, Los Angeles, CA 90025; (310) 820-1898, fax (310) 820-6357, https://www.italiantourism.com and https://www.enit.it.