So what do we do in the off-season, when there are no weddings in Lucca? Seasonal activities include picking olives in November, skiing, the closest ski resort is Abetone, about an hour North-West of Lucca, and ice skating.

In December there is usually an open-air ice rink in Lucca, in Piazza Grande. Then there is at least one open year round in Cerreto Laghi, an hour and a half North. In January and February though, the closest one is a small ice rink under a tent in Lido di Camaiore, 30 minutes away, by the beach.

It's fairly small, but we found it not too crowded on a Saturday afternoon, so we thought it very pleasant. This year it is open until February 25th, and charges €6 an hour, including the rental of the ice skates.

If the weather is nice, after you're done, you can then enjoy a nice stroll on the boardwalk. All in all a great day trip, especially for kids.

Links

• map of Lido di Camaiore
• Cerreto Laghi (in Italian)

posted by michel, 2008-02-10