(main image credit: detail from event poster The Butterfly Effect by Yoshitaka Amano)
If you are planning on travelling to northern Tuscany this autumn for Lucca Comics and Games you will doubtless be thinking about your accommodation options. The event runs from 30th October to 3rd November 2024 – with related events running staring earlier, on 19th October.
The overwhelming majority of visitors attending this event will want to be based in or near the old centre of the City, within the walls – i.e., at the epicenter of all the hubub and mayhem! We understand that. We also realise that some attendees, perhaps more mature types, and/or those who want also to see something of the local countryside while visiting the event, might like to be based a little distance from the action – somewhere they can retreat to from all the hustle and bustle. This would allow you to relax and reflect on the day’s experiences; to gain some perspective, and perhaps to enjoy some peace and quiet between event sessions (and maybe to work on necessary assignments). At Casale di Clio writers’ and artists’ retreat we offer tranquil accommodation that is still within striking distance of Lucca (see below); of course, we might also be a suitable place to stay for those planning on coming to the Lucca area during this period and who want to avoid the comic ‘mayhem’ in Lucca!
What we offer and where we are
Casale di Clio is a characterful writers’ and artists’ retreat that also welcomes hikers, lovers of nature, academics on sabbaticals, mature students on ‘reading weeks’ or writing up their dissertation/thesis – and others looking to enjoy a relaxing, reflective and/or creative getaway in a beautiful environment with stunning views. We offer a small number of ‘study bedrooms’ with a range of shared indoor and outdoor facilities – for more about the accommodation see our dedicated website page. We have a minimum booking of 5 nights, although we feel that guests get more out their Casale di Clio stay if they book for a week or two; we have prepared a page of Frequently Asked Questions (and answers!) about staying here.
We are situated in a traditional small village of Vetteglia (more of a hamlet, perhaps), in the beautiful wooded hills above Bagni di Lucca in the Apennines of northern Tuscany. This is an area rich in history. Further detail on our location can be found on another dedicated page of our website.
Our library, accessible to guests, includes a range of writing and art course/guide books – including some key texts on comic book production, for those who might want to work on their own comic/graphic novel masterpiece while staying here; why not work on your own project at Casale di Clio either in the run up to Lucca Comics and Games or after the event closes?!
For comic fans, we also hold a small collection of historic comics and annual comic books that might be made available to guests – including the first 16 issues of the original weekly Star Wars comic (UK edition) and 1970’s UK Star Trek and Dr Who annuals.
Travelling to and from Lucca
If you are looking to travel into Lucca and back each day (or several days) of your stay for the Comics and Games event, and especially if you are likely to stay in Lucca late into the evening, then you would be better off bringing your own transport or hiring a vehicle here (we can provide details of a local garage that hires a car if you would prefer not to go with one of the mainstream car-hire companies – though the latter might be considered a better option if arriving by air at Florence or Pisa). Otherwise, if you want be in the centre of the Lucca Comics and Games action 24-7, then you really would be better off based in Lucca – though do think about coming to chill out in the hills either before of after the event (perhaps to begin work on your comic masterpiece!).
If you are planning on maybe popping in to Lucca for just a couple of days/sessions over the course of your stay, however, you will be able to get by using public transport and a little assistance from us. Buses and trains travel directly to and from Lucca from Bagni di Lucca (a little under 35 minutes by either mode of transport) – and there is a bus service from near Casale di Clio to Bagni di Lucca. If you would like to discuss the viability of relying on public transport to get to and from Lucca from Casale di Clio then please contact us.
Even if bringing your own transport, given the parking pressure in Lucca during the Comics and Games event, a good option would be to drive down to park at Bagni di Lucca (Fornoli) train station (free parking) and get the train into and out of Lucca.
If after reading this you would like to stay at Casale di Clio before, during or after Lucca Comics and Games, then please submit a booking enquiry – though do not delay if you are genuinely interested, as we have limited availability and local accommodation gets booked out far in advance of the event!