Lucca Italy. Italy
Lucca is a small town in Tuscany, 20 kilometers from Pisa and not far from Florence. It takes only 20 minutes to get here from Pisa by train. This is the capital city of the province of the same name, to which it belongs, for example, where all our oligarchs live. But few people get to this beautiful city.
It is famous primarily for the well-preserved bastion-type fortress (it is considered the second largest in Europe) and for the fact that Gaius Julius Caesar and his comrades from the first triumvirate stopped by here. The streets of Lucca repeat the ancient Roman layout, and the Way of the Franks, an ancient pilgrimage route, also passed through the city.
01. The Polish train PESA runs from Pisa to Lucca. 
02. In 20 minutes you comfortably reach your destination. 
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04. And it takes literally 5 minutes to walk from the station to the fortress walls. 
05. Fortress gates (gates of St. Peter). They were built in the 16th century during the reconstruction of the fortification. 
06. They are carefully guarded by lions. 
07. Beauty begins immediately behind the fortress walls! Wherever you look - everywhere a miracle and a fairy tale. If in other cities you need to look for some Beautiful places, then in Lucca you need to try to find something ugly - and you will not find it! 
08. The city is very green. 
09. Cathedral of St. Martin. The first temple on this site was built in the 6th century, then it was rebuilt several times. The history of this particular building dates back to 1060. 
10. Having bought a ticket, you can climb its tower. 
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13. In general, there are a lot of towers in Lucca, you have to climb everything on foot, and from all of them there is an amazing view. 
14. Left - Clock Tower, the highest of medieval towers Lucca. There are 130 of them in total, but not all of them are visible from the observation platforms. 
15. A row of trees is a fortress wall on which plane trees are planted. You can walk on it. 
16. Flea market near the cathedral (we will return to it later) 
17. And this is the Gvinidzhi tower. But this is not the bell tower of the cathedral, but one of the first penthouses. That is, it is a residential tower with trees on the roof! A garden of evergreen oaks has been planted on the upper platform, and below it there used to be a kitchen. By the way, Gvinidzhi is not just another saint, but an influential family from Lucca, who built the tower. Such is the ancient Italian Trump Tower. 
18. I have already climbed it. View of the cathedral, from the bell tower of which the previous shots were taken. 
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20. Beauty! 
21. Belfry of the Basilica of St. Fridiana. 
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23. Can you tell me what century it is now? 
24. In the middle is the bell tower of the church of San Michele 
25. Apennines 
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27. Narrow medieval streets are perfectly preserved in the city. 
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31. Parking seems like a foreign element. 
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36. Public space) 
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39. Sometimes there are wrecks on the streets. 
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41. Oval Square 
42. Its other name is the Amphitheater Square. There really was once an ancient Roman amphitheater here, then salt warehouses and even a prison, but in the 19th century the architects decided to return the square to its original form. 
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44. Now this is the base for several street cafes. 
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49. Flea market 
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52. Here, as expected, they sell all sorts of junk. 
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56. Compared to the flea markets near Moscow, everything is very civilized and even beautiful. 
57. You can buy yourself a residence. 
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62. There are even such things. 
Lucca- a small town with a population of approx. 83 thousand in the region in .
In the II century BC. Etruscan city Lucca, located in the valley of the Serchio River, became a Roman colony. AT antique period the city became one of the largest military camps of the Roman Empire and was already quite rich, and by the 13th century Lucca had become a major trading center in Europe and one of the first to establish contacts with the countries of the East. The city remained independent until the arrival of Napoleon, who conquered the Tuscan lands and gave Lucca to his sister Elisa Baciocchi, who ruled here until 1814. Then the Lucca province briefly went to the Parma Bourbons, in 1847 it was returned to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and after 14 years it became part of the united kingdom of Italy.
walls(XVI-XVII centuries). Their length is 4200 m.
You can spend half a day to explore Lucca.
Orient yourself:
From the station to Piazza Ricasoli (piazza Ricasoli), located south of the walls of the city, you can go towards the northwest to Piazza Risorgimento (Piazza Risorgimento) and through Porta San Pietro gate (Porta San Pietro) - inside the walls. In the northern direction to the city center leads via Vittorio Veneto (Via Vittorio Veneto) via Piazza Napoleone (Piazza Napoleon) and further to Piazza San Michele (piazza San Michele).
Attractions Lucca:
The city is known for its well-preserved fortifications. walls(XVI-XVII centuries). Their length is 4200 m. Powerful walls (height - 12 m, width - 35 m) and bastions are in good condition, partly due to the fact that the city has practically not taken part in hostilities since their construction. At the end of the 19th century, an unusual city park was laid out on the defensive fortifications - several rows of plane trees were planted here, wide alleys were laid, children's and sports grounds were arranged.
There are many temples in Lucca - it is sometimes called the "City of a Hundred Churches". Na piazza San Martino (Piazza San Martino) is the most important of them - the cathedral CathedralSan Martino).
Tourist itinerary in Lucca:
It starts from the station and passes by the main sights of the city. The entire route - 3.5 km - can be covered in a couple of hours.
The construction of the temple began in 1063 by order of Bishop Anselm, the future Pope Alexander II. The Romanesque apse and bell tower have been preserved, but the nave and transepts were rebuilt in the 14th century, already in the Gothic style.
At the entrance to the cathedral on one of the pilasters on the right side is carved labyrinth. An ancient Latin inscription to the right of it says that this is an image of a labyrinth built by Daedalus in Crete, from which no one could find a way out, except for Theseus, who was saved by the love and thread of Ariadne. Similar labyrinths are found in other Italian churches.
In the center of the right nave is volto santo chapel(Chapelle Volto Santo, Matteo Civitali, 1484), where the main relic of Lucca, a wooden crucifix, is kept. According to an ancient legend, the image of Christ was carved from the Lebanese cedar by the gospel Nicodemus, who was present at the crucifixion. Volto Santo has been kept in Lucca since the 8th century, and every year, on September 13, a grandiose procession is dedicated to him.
Sarcophagus of Ilaria del Caretto(1406) is kept in the sacristy. The ruler of Lucca, Paolo Guinigi, ordered it from the Sienese sculptor Jacopo della Quercia to perpetuate the memory of his wife, who died in her youth. This marble headstone is considered one of the most valuable works of art kept in Lucca. In the cathedral there is another work of the same master - a statue of John the Baptist, as well as the work of Ghirlandaio, Tintoretto and Fra Bartolomeo.
The western and northern facades of the cathedral face respectively piazza San Martino (piazza San Martino) and piazza Antelminelli (Piazza Antelminelli), from where via Duomo (Via Duomo) leads to Church of San Giovanni(Chiesa di San Giovanni) on the square of the same name.
Chiesa di San Giovanni
The church was rebuilt many times and was badly damaged during the French occupation. on the facade (1589) a Romanesque portal of the 12th century has been preserved, in the interior the three naves are separated by antique Roman columns, the wooden coffered ceiling dates back to the 16th century.
Giglio Theater
Next door is piazza Giglio (Piazza Giglio), where the opera house of the same name stands Giglio theater(Teatro del Giglio, 1819). At the beginning of the 19th century, this scene was extremely popular in Italy and competed with the theaters of San Carlo in Naples and La Scala in Milan.
The urban layout has been preserved since ancient times. Via Cenami (via Chenami) and via Fillungo (via Fillungo), going from north to south, as well as via S. Paolino (Via San Paolino) via Roma (Via Roma) and via Santa Croce (via Santa Croce) in the direction west - east divide Lucca into four parts. Near their intersection was the city forum, on the site of which is now located piazzaSanMicheleinForo(piazza San Michele in Foro), or simply Foro (Foro).
Chiesa di San Michele in Foro
Here stands a church San Michele in Foro(Chiesa di San Michele in Foro), which was built over several centuries. The lower tier of the main facade is made in the Romanesque style, the other levels are decorated with Gothic loggias (XIII century). The bell tower dates from the 14th century.
On the main facade there is a marble sculpture of the Archangel Michael with metal wings. It is said in the city that one rich parishioner, struck by the beauty of San Michele, donated an emerald to the church, the stone was inserted into the ring on the archangel's hand, and now locals and tourists are staring skyward, hoping to catch a green reflection.
- San Michele in Foro
- Piazza San Michele in Foro
- 08.00–12.00, 15.00– 18.00
Casa di Puccini
Next to the Church of San Michele is located up to m Puccini(Casa di Puccini), where the Italian composer was born in 1858.
Inside there is a museum dedicated to the life of the composer, documents, photographs and musical instruments are stored here.
- Puccini's house
- Corte San Lorenzo, 9
- summer Tue–Sun 10.00–18.00, winter Tue–Sun 10.00–13.00, 15.00–18.00
Torre della Ore
On the other side via Fillungo worth clock towerI(Torre della Ore, 50 m). The tower itself dates from the 13th century, and the clock was made in 1754 in Geneva.
Guinji Tower
A little further is Guinigi tower(Torre Guinigi, 1384), she is also the "Tower with a garden", which is considered one of the symbols of the city. evergreen trees really grow on its upper platform (41 m). Once upon a time, the tower itself and the palace to which it adjoins belonged to the Guinigi family, and are now owned by the municipality. In the late 1980s, this architectural monument was restored and opened to the public (to observation deck leads 230 steps).
- Guinigi tower
- Via Sant'Andrea, 45
- daily March–Sept. 09.00–19.30, Oct. 10.00–18.00, Nov.–Feb. 10.00–16.30, 25 Dec. close
Romanesque Church of San Frediano
Romanesque church San Frediano(Chiesa di San Frediano, reconstruction XII century) - one of the most ancient temples of Lucca. The façade is decorated with a golden mosaic (Berlingiero di Milanese, 13th century) depicting the ascension of Christ. In the interior, a Romanesque font, a 16th-century organ and an altar, under which the relics of St. Fridian, Bishop of Lucca (d. 588).
- Church of San Frediano
- Via degli Angeli, 19
Via Fillungo goes to piazza dell'Anfiteatro (Piazza dell'Anfiteatro). The Roman amphitheater is no longer there - it was dismantled in the Middle Ages, but the building of the square exactly repeats the plan of the arena.
Palazzo Mansi
From the Church of San Frediano via San Giorgio (Via San Giorgio) you can walk to the intersection with via Galli Tassi(Via Galli Tassi), where Palazzo Mansi (Palazzo Mansi, XVI century). Currently, the building houses ( Pinacoteca Nazionale), where there are works by Tintoretto and Luca Giordano, in addition, you can see the chambers of the palazzo, where the atmosphere of the 17th century has been preserved.
- Palazzo Mansi
- National Art Gallery
- Via Galli Tassi, 43
- daily 09.00–19.00, Sun, holidays until 14.00,
- Jan 1, May 1 and Dec 25, Mon closed
Map of Lucca:
This wooden crucifix was carved from Lebanese cedar by the gospel Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin and a secret disciple of Christ. Together with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus removed the body of Jesus from the Cross. When Nicodemus decided to make an image of the crucified Christ, he ran into a difficulty: he could not reproduce the facial features of Jesus. however, the Face appeared miraculously thanks to angelic help, as stated in some versions of the legend. The crucifix is the main relic of Lucca.
I liked to look at the faces of the people accompanying the Holy Face, here each participant is carefully written out and with his own individual character. True, for this I had to sacrifice a coin to turn on the lighting in the dark chapel.
The most shocking detail of the interior is St. Zita. The mummified saint looks very creepy, just like. I will quote the wiki
Zita was born in 1212 in the village of Monsagrati, near the city of Lucca, Tuscany. At the age of 12, she began to serve in the Fatinelli family home. For a long time, employers overloaded the girl with work, often beat her. However, the continuous bad attitude towards Zita did not deprive her of inner world and tranquility. Zita endured bullying humbly, which, in the end, softened the attitude of the owners and colleagues towards her [colleagues, Giuseppe! who wrote this article?] at work. Zita's constant piety and patience led the Fatinelli family to Christian conversion. Zita considered her work a calling from God and an element of personal repentance.
After her death, members of this family began to venerate Zita as a saint. In 1580, her body was exhumed and it turned out that the relics of St. Zita were incorrupt. They were transferred to the Basilica of St. Fredian in the city of Lucca, where they are currently stored.
All three famous churches of Lucca impressed me, the best part is that they are located within a five-minute walk from each other, so even with a lack of time, it is quite possible to have time to see them in one sitting.
40. Amphitheater Square
In ancient times, Lucca was a rich city and could afford an arena for gladiator fights for ten thousand spectators. Over time, the Lucca Amphitheater was destroyed and built up with buildings. Now his arena rests at a depth of three meters under the square. But in the 19th century, the authorities decided to arrange a square on this site, repeating the shape of the Roman arena. This is how the picturesque and unusual in its oval shape Piazza dell "Anfiteatro" appeared.
I, as always, am beautiful, but since I saw my friend home in the morning, I had to capture myself in a mirrored window.
Lucca is a moderately touristy city, and I found the largest concentration of my fellows just on the Amphitheater Square. There is also the largest concentration of black brothers of traders of all sorts of nonsense.
On the outer side of the Amphitheater Square, in some places the remains of the upper tiers of the ancient arena have been preserved.
Lucca was just a balm for my weary soul trip. No, really, like, besides many interesting sights, there is a very pleasant atmosphere, a comfortable and prosperous city.
31. Guinigi Tower
In the Middle Ages, a whole "forest" of high residential towers rose above Lucca. They were built to decorate the city and demonstrate the wealth of the owner of the household. Now a similar landscape with towers can be seen, and in Lucca, in fact, only one tower has survived. The tower was built by the Guinigi family, who actually ruled Lucca at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. She left behind a rich residence with a 45-meter tower. It all ended with the fact that the last descendant of the Guinigi family transferred the tower to the ownership of the city.
The Guinigi were inventive builders: they decorated their tower with a hat of living green trees. On the upper platform of the tower there are boxes with earth, in which seven holm oaks grow. And from the top of the tower - just under the shadow of these very oaks - there is an excellent view of the whole city.
I decided that I must definitely climb the Guinigi tower, since the entrance there is quite inexpensive, three or four euros. While he was getting up, he looked into the windows of the houses of the Luccans (or how would a resident of Lucca be right?).
Clock tower and bell tower of San Frediano.
Amphitheater Square.
The clock tower is a little closer.
Those same famous oaks on the roof of the tower. First time I see this!
Duomo of Lucca.
Patios, it's amazing that there is so much greenery.
By and large, I have already bypassed the main sights of Lucca, but I decided to take a little walk around the city I liked.
The first column in Italy dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. in honor of the adoption in the 19th century of the corresponding dogma. But in Lucca, she appeared as much as 200 years earlier, when Immaculate Conception did not become official dogma.
Another fountain with the purest drinking water. Then I just ran out of water, I got in line for the seniors and also filled a bottle of local mineral water. The water tastes very good!
Gothic San Francesco of the 15th century.
This is not only a church, but also a monastery. I got through the open gate and took a short walk around the monastery courtyards.
Rear facade of the church of the Franciscan monastery.
Behind the monastery is a vast area. There were no longer not only tourists, but also locals, it seems that they do not reach this area.
I again climbed out onto the city wall, only in the opposite part from the station in the north of the city. I remind you that Lucca is one of the four cities in Italy where the wall surrounding the city has completely survived. However, it looks a little like a wall, rather a boulevard.
A traditional cat, without which it is impossible to make a normal report.
And once again I emphasize that Lucca is charming and nice even away from the tourist routes.
I have not shown even half of the churches of Lucca. Getting around them all in half a day is simply unrealistic. Masterpieces like this 12th-century Chiesa di Santa Maria Forisportam are everywhere. The church is interesting in that a sundial is installed inside, made according to the principle of a camera obscura. A small hole is punched in the wall, and at noon a ray of sunshine points to a certain place on the floor of the church.
Memorial plaque in honor of Blessed Gemma Galgani.
In 1899, when she was 20 years old, Gemma developed stigmata. She stated that she began to receive private revelations from the Virgin Mary, the guardian angel and other saints. At the request of her spiritual father, Gemma prayed for the end of these visions and the stigmata disappeared.
Living in poverty, Gemma became widely known for her holy life in the city of Lucca, but she did not find support for her spiritual life, meeting neglect and negative attitude towards her visions among relatives and the church hierarchy. In early 1903, Gemma contracted tuberculosis. During her short but fatal illness, she received various extraordinary mystical phenomena. At the beginning of Holy Week, her health deteriorated sharply and she died on Good Friday, April 11, 1903.
After Gemma's death, her spiritual father, who kept all her mystical experiences secret, wrote a detailed biography, publishing Gemma's personal diary and letters. Church authorities after the publication of Gemma's writings recognized the authenticity of her mystical life.
My walk around Lucca was not too long and took about three hours. The city is very compact, so this time was enough for me to get around the main attractions. All in all, Lucca is a great option for a half day trip from Florence.
Attractions
Guide
Lucca - Big City in the region of Tuscany, the center of the province of the same name. Located on a small hill on the banks of the Serchio River. According to the latest census, about 86,000 inhabitants live in Lucca.
Lucca was founded by the Ligurian tribes in the center of the alluvial plain of the Serchio River - hence the name of the city, which in the local dialect means "swampy". In 180 B.C. the Romans, who became the masters of the city, replanned it at their own discretion, laying perpendicular streets Cardo Maximus and Decumanus Maximus - these streets have been preserved in their outlines to this day, only today they are called Via Fillungo and Via Cenami. The ancient Roman forum has also been preserved - Piazza San Michele is now broken in its place.
During the Middle Ages, Lucca remained an important city, as the roads to Rome, Parma, Florence and Pisa passed through it, as well as the main transport artery of Italy at that time - Via Francigena. Despite constant conflicts with neighboring city-states, Lucca prospered through banking and the production and sale of silk. The peak of prosperity came in the 14th century, when Castruccio Castracani ruled in the city, but in the next century Lucca lost its status as the most important city of Tuscany, giving it to Florence. True, until the advent of the Napoleonic era (the end of the 18th century), the city retained a republican structure, and for a long time was considered the second largest Italian city with this form of government (after Venice). In 1847, Lucca was annexed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and later shared the fate of other cities of the Apennine Peninsula, becoming part of a single Italy.
Lucca is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Tuscany. Here, the ancient fortress walls have been completely preserved, from the top of which a charming view of the surrounding plains opens up - in spring these fields are painted in bright and rich colors, which gives Lucca a romantic flair.
Of the religious buildings, first of all it is worth seeing Cathedral San Martino, located on the square of the same name, was founded in the 6th century and acquired its current appearance in the Middle Ages. Inside are works by Tintoretto, Ghirlandaio and Civitali. Near the cathedral stands the 14th century baptistery, the 12th century church of San Giovanni and the monument to Maria Luisa of Bourbon. Many small churches with magnificent sculptural decoration and high square bell towers have been preserved since the “golden age” of Lucca - the 14th century (Trecento). Their Gothic façades often hide older walls and layouts. Another interesting temple - the Basilica of San Frediano - is notable for the fact that the relics of St. Zita are kept in it. And opposite the basilica lies Piazza del Anfiteatre.
The attraction of Lucca is the Guinigi Houses - two rows of brick buildings located on the street of the same name. It is here that the Torre Guinigi tower stands, on the upper platform of which oaks grow, and behind the houses you can see the church of Santa Maria Forisportam, which attracts attention with its marble facade.
The highlight of Lucca is its ancient luxurious palaces and villas, of which there are incredibly many in the city. For example, the 17th-century Palazzo Mansi is notable for its opulent interiors and, in particular, the carved Baroque alcove. Today within its walls lies National Museum with a large collection of paintings ranging from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Palazzo Ducale, the creation of the great Ammannati, was built on the site of the fortress of Castruccio Castracani, and Palazzo Pretorio was built back in the 15th century according to the project of Civitali. Also worth visiting are Palazzo Bernardini, Palazzo Pfanner, Villa Guinigi with its archaeological and art museums, and Villa Garzoni, famous for its park with a pond. Finally, the city has two museums dedicated to its great natives, the composers Giacomo Puccini and Luigi Boccherini.
And in the vicinity of Lucca, you can go hiking in the Apuan Alps with obligatory visit Oak Witches, which is over 800 years old!
Lucca is famous for being the home of one of the best antique markets in Italy - on its shelves you can find hundreds of silver jewelry, costume jewelry, bronzes, antique carpets, furniture, books and many other things. You can find all these "treasures" every third weekend in almost all areas of the city. In addition, shopping lovers will enjoy a walk along Via Fillungo, along which there are boutiques of famous Italian stamps.
Lucca is also rich in various festivals: in July there is a festival of pop and rock music, in August - the Puccini Festival, in September - a medieval festival and a fair on the city walls, and in late October and early November - a comedian festival.
No real traveler will refuse to be in a city with a long history, surrounded by fortress walls of the 16th century, practically not affected by time, among the architecture of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, colorful markets and shops with local delicacies ... Lucca is able to surprise, enchant, intrigue and leave unforgettable impressions.
Lucca is a city with a population of 90 thousand inhabitants, an area of 185.5 sq. Km, located in the northwest, not far from, and.
History of Lucca
Regarding the origin of the city of Lucca, historians express different opinions: some believe that the city that arose in a swampy area has a connection with, based on the Celtic-Ligurian name "Luk", which means "swamp"; other scholars, based on recent archaeological discoveries, attribute the founding of the city to the Etruscans.
But be that as it may, already in 180 BC. Lucca was a Roman colony, as evidenced by the square of the Amphitheater, which has an oval shape, and the forum, located on the site of the modern Piazza San Michele. However, traces of the presence of the ancient Romans are most easily recognized in the historic center of the city, whose streets repeat the strict perpendicularity of Roman streets. The first fortifications, which bounded the square of the ancient Roman city planning, belong to the same period.
The history of Lucca consists of periods of wars and foreign domination, followed by years of peace and prosperity. In the 5th century, Lucca was occupied by the Goths, in the 6th century the Byzantines conquered the city, then Lucca became one of the most important cities of the Longobard kingdom. With the fall of the Longobard power in 773, the domination of the Carolingians began, under whose rule the city began to actively develop, thanks to commercial activities and textile production - the highest quality silk was made here, which was valued in many countries.
Textile products of ancient Lucca (museum in Mansi Palace). A photoflickr. com
Lucca and neighboring Pisa were at war with each other for a long time, and in 1314 the Pisans finally established their power in Lucca, which resulted in the loss of Lucca's monopoly in the textile market. In 1370, Lucca regained its freedom and independence, and in 1438 a truce was signed with Florence, which returned the city to a state of economic and political stability.
In 1799, during the Italian campaign of Napoleon, Lucca came under his rule. About it historical fact mentions Leo Tolstoy in his novel War and Peace, opening his famous work with the following phrase, uttered by the maid of honor Anna Scherer in 1805: "Eh bien, mon prince, Gênes et Lucques ne sont plus que des apanages, des "pomestja" de la famille Buonaparte..." (Well, Prince, Genoa and Lucca became no more than the estates of the Bonaparte family...) In 1815 Lucca became a Bourbon duchy, and in 1847 the Duke of Lucca, Charles Louis of Bourbon-Parma, ceded the Duchy of Lucca to the Grand Duchy Tuscany, which led to the loss of its independence.
Coat of arms of the Duchy of Lucca. Photo loschermo.it
The tourist direction began to develop in Lucca around 1930, which was greatly facilitated by the construction of the Firenze-Mare (Florence - Sea) highway.
Sights of Lucca
The first thing that catches the eye of a tourist who decides to explore Lucca is an impressive fortress wall, built in the XV-XVII centuries to protect the city, 4223 meters long, with 11 bastions, six external and three internal gates. Already from the second half of XIX century, a powerful fortress wall began to be used as a place for hiking. For some time, until the 90s of the last century, cars even drove along it, including heavy ones - the only example in the world of such use of fortress walls. Today, the city walls are a great place for walking and cycling.
Alley on the city wall. A photoflickr. com
Historical Center Lucca has survived almost unchanged since the Middle Ages - the same narrow streets, squares with adjoining towers and palaces, and about 60 churches. The city is crossed by the central street of ancient Lucca - Via Fillungo (Via Fillungo).
Via Fillungo. A photoflickr. com
Cathedral of Saint Martin. Photo flickr.com
Among the masterpieces that can be seen inside the cathedral are the painting "Madonna Enthroned with Child and Saints" by the 15th-century Florentine artist Domenico Ghirlandaio and the tomb monument of Ilaria Carretto by the sculptor Jacopo Della Quercia.
Tombstone by Jacopo della Quercia. A photobefan. it
Church of St. Michael(Chiesa di San Michele in Foro), located on, and (Basilica di San Frediano) are prime examples of Pisano-Luccan architecture.
Church of St. Michael. A photoflickr. com
(Torre Giunigi), 44 meters high, is the main and highest tower of Lucca - one of the few that have survived to this day, although at the beginning of the 14th century there were more than 250 towers and bell towers in the city. The Guinigi, the most distinguished family of the city, decided to ennoble their family tower by planting several oak trees on its top - a symbol of rebirth.
Guinigi Tower.A photoflickr. com
Amphitheater Square(Piazza dell "Anfiteatro) has the shape of an ellipse, since it was built in the Middle Ages on the remains of an ancient Roman amphitheater dating back to the 2nd century. The level of the modern square is three meters higher compared to the ancient arena. Four gates lead to the square, only one of which , the lowest ones, completely repeat their medieval original.
Amphitheater Square. A photobanning power. org
Villa Paolo Guinigi(XV century) since 1924 is the location of state museum containing a rich art and archaeological collection.
Mansi Palace(Palazzo Mansi), built at the end of the 16th century, is also currently a museum, the exhibits of which are not only paintings by masters of the 19th century, but also samples of ancient fabrics and textile products of Lucca.
Palace Pfanner(Palazzo Pfanner) XVII century - a magnificent example of Lucca baroque, surrounded by a beautiful garden.
AT House Museum of Giacomo Puccini, where the composer was born, his letters, scores, photographs, personal items are currently stored.
What to try in Lucca
The local cuisine is based on ancient traditions of cooking simple, but tasty and original dishes. Let's name some of them. Garmucha- spring soup with onions, peas, artichokes, asparagus, green beans in beef broth, served with pieces of meat and brisket and toasted bread with olive oil. Matuffi- tender polenta (porridge made from cornmeal) with meat sauce or with mushrooms and parmesan. Rovellin- thin slices of beef, fried and stewed in a sauce of tomatoes, capers and herbs. fried baccala(dried cod) with chickpeas seasoned with olive oil, pepper and salt. Rabbit in sauce from onions, garlic, tomatoes, olives, red peppers and herbs. Pork with chestnut flour polenta, lamb with olives, trout from the Serchio river on a spit.
Vegetable casseroles are also an integral part of Lucca's cuisine, using spinach, green beans, artichokes, cauliflower and chard. Vegetables are baked in the oven with bechamel sauce and egg yolks. Almost all dishes are seasoned with local, marked with the DOP sign.
Sweets lovers should pay attention to buccelato- sweet cake with raisins and anise, castagnaccio- chestnut flour cake with pine nuts and raisins, necchi- chestnut flour pancakes stuffed with ricotta.
Sweet things. A photonelliamiacucina. altervista. org
Guilt of this zone are both white and red Montecarlo DOC and Colline Lucchesi DOC, as well as the aromatic herbal liqueur Biadina, which is also a wonderful souvenir for tourists, since it is produced in only one place in the historical center of Lucca.
How to get to Lucca
By car: from Florence on the A11 Firenze-Mare motorway; from Genoa - take the A12 Genova-Rosignano motorway.
Lucca can be reached by train or bus from Florence, Pisa and Viareggio.
By plane: Pisa Airport 30 km, Florence Airport 70 km, Rome Airport 350 km.
