Practicalities

Lucca is an important provincial capital, enjoying a very good geographical position: only 20 kilometers far from Pisa and its leaning tower, just 70 kilometers far from Florence and 20 kilometers from Viareggio (being the latter art of the Provincial area of Lucca) and the entire Versilia coastline, and approx. 100 kilometers from the town of Massa.
The Province of Lucca borders with the ones of Pisa, Florence, Pistoia and Massa, occupying, along with the latter, the northern extremity of Tuscany. Reaching the town is rather simple, also from very far, being Lucca extremely close to the two major airports of Central Italy.
The nearest airports to Lucca are Pisa International Airport "Galileo Galilei" and Florence International Airport "Amerigo Vespucci".

From Pisa Airport to Lucca
The easiest way to get to the Conference Venue is to take a taxi just outside the airport for a cost of approximately 50 € - taxi telephone number: (+39) 050-541600. It takes about 30-40 minutes. As an alternative, just outside the airport you will notice a little train station: every twenty minutes a train leaves in order to connect Pisa Airport to Pisa Central Station where you will find train coincidences to Lucca Station (you can find trains every hour that brings you in Lucca in about 50 minutes, spending € 2,20). For more information see also ‘By train’.
Another way to get to Lucca is to take an interurban bus of the "Autolinee Lazzi" leaving just outside the airport. The journey will take approximately one hour and you can check the schedule visiting the page: Pisa - Lucca airport by bus.

From Florence Airport to Lucca
Once again the easiest way to get to the Conference Venue is to take a taxi just outside the airport for an approximate cost of no less than 80 €. The first alternative is to take a city line bus to the Train Station of Santa Maria Novella, in order to take a train coincidence to Lucca (the cost is € 4,70). There is a bus leaving every 30 minutes just outside the airport and you can get more information at the following websites: www.ataf.net or www.sita-on-line.it. The whole journey (bus+train) will take approximately two hours.
The second alternative to get to Lucca is to take an interurban bus of the "Autolinee Lazzi"; there is a dedicated bus stop immediately nearby the airport and you can visualize the schedule of the connections on the following website: www.lazzi.it. The journey will take approximately one hour and forty-five minutes.

From the Bus Station to IMT (the Conference Venue)
Lucca's bus station is located in Piazzale Verdi and the Conference Venue is only fifteen minutes walking: take Via S. Paolino, just opposite the tourist information office, and go straight on until Piazza S. Michele, easily recognizable for the marvellous marble white church. Cross the square and go on through Via Roma, Piazza Bernardini and Via S.Croce (the same straight path, just changing names). Pass the SS. Gervasio e Protasio door to get into Via Elisa: the second turn on your right is Via S. Micheletto, where IMT's (the Conference Venue) entrance is located.
(tel. 0583-5411 or 0583-587-897) CLAP
(tel. 0583-584-877) Lazzi

The train is a convenient and economic mode of transportation. Some high speed trains (Eurostar), which run on the important longer stretches like those connecting Naples, Rome and Milan, require a surcharge and reservation. When travelling on these trains it is wise to book in advance, as on busy days (like Friday) they can be full.
For timetables and information on surcharges please consult the timetable of the Italian railways on-line. Please note that your train ticket is not valid until you have stamped it. There are small yellow boxes all over the train stations which stamp your ticket when you insert it.
For more information see also ‘How to move around’ – ‘By train or bus’

From the train station to IMT (the Conference Venue)
There are two possible ways to reach IMT from Piazzale Ricasoli, where the train station is located: you can take a taxi just outside the station (For more information see also ‘How to move around’ – ‘By taxi) or, if you prefer, you can have a ten minutes walk following the subsequent directions. Go out from the station, cross Piazzale Ricasoli and then turn right in Viale Giusti, a large boulevard where you'll be able to admire the outstanding Lucca's walls on your left; go straight on through Viale Pacini until you see Porta Elisa, a marble white entrance door to the town. As soon as you enter the town you are in Via Elisa: follow the road until the first crossroads where you will turn left in Via S. Micheletto: IMT's (the Conference Venue) entrance is immediately on your left.

From Northern Italy:
  Highway A11 from Bologna – Florence
  Highway A12 from Genova (Genoa) - Livorno (Leghorn)
From Southern Italy:
  Highway A11 from Firenze (Florence) - Pisa Nord

From the Highway to IMT (the Conference Venue)
We recommend to take the highway's exit "Lucca Est"; at the crossroads turn left in order to enter Viale Europa; go straight on until you reach a roundabout where you will turn right and take Viale Carducci; follow the road, keeping the marvellous Lucca's walls on your left until you arrive in Piazzale Ricasoli, where the train station is located. Here you should turn right, still keeping the walls on your left, and go straight on until you see Porta Elisa, a marble white entrance door to the town. As soon as you enter the town you are in Via Elisa, where you can follow the directions in order to leave the car in one of the many parking lots nearby, while Via S. Micheletto, where IMT's (the Conference Venue) entrance is located, is actually the first road on your left.
For more info: www.autostrade.it/en/index.html (see also ‘How to move around’ – ‘By car’)

By bike
You can rent a bike at
Centro di Accoglienza Turistica di Piazzale Verdi Tel.0583 583462.
D B bikes - P.zza S.Maria, 32 - Tel. 0583.496031
Poli Antonio Biciclette - P.zza S.Maria, 42. Tel. e Fax. 0583.493787

By taxi
You can find a taxi at:
P.le Verdi 0583 581305
P.za S.Maria 0583 494190
P.za Ricasoli (Station) 0583 494989
Campo di Marte (Hospital) 0583 950623
P.za Napoleone 0583 492691 (0583 316041)
Via Barbantini, 617 - tel. 0583 950623
Radiotaxi
Via C. Battisti, 5
tel. 0583 955200/ 955241/ 955268

By car
20 km from Pisa and 70 Km from Florence, Lucca is located in a suitable position to get almost everywhere in Tuscany within few hours. The historical center (limited traffic zone) is closed to private vehicles. The best way to visit Lucca is, in fact, on foot. There are many parking places located near principal access routes and public transport facilities: to the west, Via delle Tagliate; to the south, Viale Carducci; to the east, Via Caserma Mazzini (you can check on the map the parking more suitable for you).
The car rental companies operating in the arrivals area of Pisa Airport offer a fleet of more than 400 vehicles including cars, vans, minibuses and campers. Even if you arrive on the last flight, you will always find at least one company expecting you and ready to meet your requirements. However, we recommend booking your car in advance.
In Italy highways are privately owned. This means that you pay for the stretch of the highway that you use at the toll booth when you get off.
The other major roads in Italy are called ‘Superstrada’ and do not require payment.
Maximum speed is 130 km per hour on the highways, and 90 on the Superstrada. Please note that on both these roads it is mandatory to have your LIGHTS ON! The use of a mobile phone is prohibited while driving.
Road service/a tow truck (soccorso stradale) can be called free at number 803.116 (ACI Automobile Club d’Italia) or at number 803.803
(Europe Assistance VAI).
You can plan your trip using www.viamichelin.com

By train or bus
If you don't have your own mean of transportation you can rely on Clap buses (tel. 0583-5411 or 0583-587-897) or Lazzi buses (tel. 0583-584-877).
Both lines are based at Piazzale Verdi.
Clap is dedicated to local transportation (within Lucca province) while Lazzi destinations are inside and outside the province.
A scenic railway line ducks in and out of tunnels alongside the Serchio River - you ride under an arch of the Devil's Bridge - and goes out onto the Lunigiana plain to Aulla, where you can change.

• www.clapspa.it (website in Italian)

Ticket and information office
Piazzale Verdi - tel. 0583 587897
Claims: toll-free number 800602525

• www.lazzi.it Ticket office Information and time table available on the website
  Piazzale Verdi - tel. 0583 584876
• www.trenitalia.it

Lucca Train Station
More info
Piazza Ricasoli
FS info 89 20 21
Customer Care: tel. 0583 467013
Information and Ticket Office: tel. 0583 47013