The parish (pieve) called Pieve Santo Stefano is one of the most exclusive and desirable areas of Lucca. It is home to many Tenutas (Maria Teresa is  1 km away, Forci and Fabbrica di San Martino are only 2 kms away). The red wine mainly san giovese but also merlot is excellent as is the chardonnay .

Olive oil is available to buy but also honey and fresh goats cheese can be bought nearby.

There are several good restaurants within 5 kms. Restaurant Vipore is 1km away going right up to Forci and has a wonderful terrace with a large back garden. Lombardo is a further 500 metres and is famous for the local tortelli Lucchese. The award winning Locanda Vigna Ilaria is 2 kms down towards Lucca and serves typical Lucchese dishes and excellent fresh fish dishes. All three have outside dining areas.

  The village of Sant ' Alessio has an excellent butchers shop and every day basics are catered for at the small Conad supermarket. There is also a petrol station,  La Nuvola ice cream parlour and a couple of local family style trattorias serving typical pasta dishes. On Monte San Quirico bridge there is a fortnightly farmers market as well as craft markets and fresh milk directly from the farm is available daily. There is also Borgo Giannotti a bustling high street with banks, delicatessens, shops selling household items, clothes shops and countless other things. From here you can park and walk into Lucca.

    Situated west of Lucca you are only 25 minutes from Viareggio and Lidi di Camaiore if you take the old coastal road (Via per Camaiore) you are also about 35 minutes to the exclusive resort of Forte dei Marmi which is famous for its Wednesday market. Pisa Airport is 25 minutes and Florence is 40 minutes by car.

 Lucca is only 10 minutes away.