Any visit to Tuscany mandates a trip to the Uffizi and Leaning Tower of Pisa. When I visited Lucca, Italy, however, I came across a more obscure attraction __ a simple mercatini dell'usato (second-hand market) __ and was pleasantly surprised by the extraordinary cultural experience that awaited me.
Il Mercato Antiquario Lucchese takes place on the third weekend of every month, and it is by no means an ordinary flea market. A vast event with more than 220 vendors and taking place in the town's Piazza San Giusto and surrounding squares, the market specializes in unique collected items, from antique ceramics and hand-woven lace to war artifacts and vintage furniture.
