Shopping in Lucca

As well as the wide range of bars of restaurants Lucca of course has a good selection of shops: from food to clothing, worldwide to local it is all here.  The medieval historic centre constrains their size so no matter how international you are you can not become intrusive or overwhelming in the scheme of things; there is no shopping precinct or centre and no mega store.  In Lucca small is beautiful. 

Although small, most of the old frontages have been modernised.  Only a few retain the multi windowed wooden frames of yesteryear but there is a local bye law that does aim to keep some of the history of old Lucca alive in the streets: some of the shops are obliged to retain their old signs above the door whatever they may be selling.  It’s charming but could be confusing: you pop into a shop to buy some ladies’ underwear and are faced with a wide selection of ice cream; or you might wander into a shop with the girlfriend with the aim of buying a bottle of wine for the evening only to be confronted with expensive jewellery – dangerous!