Exe Toscana

You know what struck me first about Exe Toscana? It’s that sweet spot where you feel like you’re actually staying in Italy, not just some generic hotel that happens to be in Italy. The place sits on Viale Europa – which honestly sounds more impressive than it is, but hear me out – it’s actually this perfect location where you’re close enough to walk into Lucca’s historic center but far enough out that you’re not dealing with tourist chaos right outside your window.

I mean, let’s be real about Lucca for a second. Everyone talks about Florence and Rome, but this little walled city is where you go when you want that authentic Tuscan experience without fighting crowds for every decent photo. The Exe Toscana gets this – it’s got that contemporary Italian hotel vibe without trying too hard. The lobby has this warm, understated elegance that feels distinctly local, and the staff actually seems to care about whether you find that little osteria tucked away near San Frediano. When I checked in, the woman at the desk didn’t just hand me a key – she pulled out a proper map and marked the best gelato spot (it’s not the obvious one on Via Fillungo, trust me).

The rooms are what you’d expect from a solid 4-star place, but here’s what matters: the beds are actually comfortable, the Wi-Fi works throughout the building, and – this is crucial if you’re planning to explore the region – there’s proper parking that doesn’t require a PhD in Italian traffic laws to navigate. The breakfast setup is honestly better than it needs to be, with local pastries that taste like they came from the bakery down the street rather than some industrial kitchen. And here’s a detail that’ll matter if you’re there in summer: the air conditioning actually works, which is more than I can say for some places I’ve stayed in Tuscany.

What really sells me on this place, though, is how it fits into the rhythm of Lucca itself. You can walk to the walls – those famous Renaissance ramparts that circle the old city – in about ten minutes, maybe fifteen if you stop for coffee. The area around the hotel has that lived-in neighborhood feel where you’ll see locals doing their shopping and kids playing in the small piazzas. It’s not sanitized for tourists, which I appreciate. There’s a decent restaurant right across the street if you don’t feel like venturing far after a long day of exploring, and the hotel restaurant itself does solid regional dishes without the tourist markup you’d find inside the walls.

Look, the 8.4 rating makes sense when you consider the whole package. It’s not going to wow you with over-the-top luxury, but it nails the fundamentals while giving you that genuine sense of place that’s getting harder to find. If you’re using Lucca as a base to explore Tuscany – and honestly, you should consider it – this is the kind of place where you’ll feel comfortable coming back to after a day in the Chianti hills or a train trip to Pisa.