First Light of a Tuscan MorningThis was going to be a long day as we wanted to visit Lucca, which is a 2 hour drive from where we are staying. We got up early (for us) at 07:30 and I immediately went outside to take a picture of the sun coming up.
Lucca has a well preserved 4 km wall surrounding it and it’s a great place to walk or bike. As we walked the ramparts we were joined by many locals walking, biking or jogging their way around the wall. Lucca has had three walls in its 2,000 years and the current one took one hundred years to build (1550 – 1650) and was state of the art for its time as it was designed to absorb cannonball fire. It was short but wide with 35 meters of dirt covered with brick and stone. It cost the town 33% of its total income for 100 years to build, however it was good value as it was never penetrated by an enemy. Lucca is also a very interesting place inside its walls as it has several Churches, lots of Piazzas and wonderful cobbled streets to roam and window shop. Lucca will also be remembered by Rita for having her third proper lunch of our Europe trip. It was in a sun soaked Piazza that was built on top of a Roman Amphitheatre. The current buildings mark the existing outside walls but the cobbled square is 9 feet above the original Amphitheatre floor.
On the way home we stopped to admire and take a picture of a remarkable sunset. It was a wonderful way to end the day.
Lucca has a well preserved 4 km wall surrounding it and it’s a great place to walk or bike. As we walked the ramparts we were joined by many locals walking, biking or jogging their way around the wall. Lucca has had three walls in its 2,000 years and the current one took one hundred years to build (1550 – 1650) and was state of the art for its time as it was designed to absorb cannonball fire. It was short but wide with 35 meters of dirt covered with brick and stone. It cost the town 33% of its total income for 100 years to build, however it was good value as it was never penetrated by an enemy. Lucca is also a very interesting place inside its walls as it has several Churches, lots of Piazzas and wonderful cobbled streets to roam and window shop. Lucca will also be remembered by Rita for having her third proper lunch of our Europe trip. It was in a sun soaked Piazza that was built on top of a Roman Amphitheatre. The current buildings mark the existing outside walls but the cobbled square is 9 feet above the original Amphitheatre floor.
On the way home we stopped to admire and take a picture of a remarkable sunset. It was a wonderful way to end the day.
Church of San Michele of Foro
Piazza del Anfiteatro sitting on top of the ruins of a 10,000 seat Roman Amphitheatre
Sunset on way home to Siena
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