We took a half hour bus ride from Pisa to Lucca with Jenny and David, where we have an apartment for 8 nights. Lucca has a lovely, interesting old town dating back to Roman times, and the rest is chiefly Renaissance style.
The entrance door of our apartment. The apartment is on Via San Paolino, very central and attractive, but when we arrived we found out there are problems with the water, so the air conditioning and one of the bathrooms don’t function. However we managed to negotiate a discount that suited us and after a couple of very hot and humid days, the temperature dropped anyway.
We spend a lot to time walking around exploring. This is the Cathedral di San Martino, in Lucca Pisan style, started in the 11th century.
Close up you can see each of the columns on the facade are unique and the colours are amazing.
The interior of the cathedral features Gothic arches.
Saint Martino cutting his cloak in half to share with a beggar.
The beautiful marble floor.
This wooden crucifix is said to have been sculptured by Nicodemus in Jerusalem and set afloat in an unmanned boat that landed on the coast of Tuscany, then was carried miraculously to Lucca by wild oxen in 782.
Another major site in Lucca is the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro. It is an elliptical shape, as it is built on the foundations of the Roman amphitheatre. Now it is tourist shops and restaurants.
Lucca's other claim to fame is that is the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), so we have all become Puccini experts. Just say the word and we will break in to La Boheme and Turandot at the drop of a hat.
Bill, Jenny and David ready to tour Puccini's childhood home.
Proudly holding the program outside the venu
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