Well, hullo there … I’m back!

Work has brought me to Tuscany and the town of Lucca – about 10 miles/17 Kilometres from Pisa. Lucca is a very old city with roots that go back to 180 BC. In fact it was here in 56 BC that none other than Julius Caesar himself formed the “First Triumvirate’ with Pompey and Crassus

Today Lucca is best known for two main things – their Renaissance Wall and their favourite son; Giacomo Puccini (of La Boheme and Madam Butterfly fame). (And, just an aside, if you are an opera buff – or not – Puccin’s home is a museum worth visiting.)

What is fascinating about Lucca is that their wall, built between 1545 and 1650 , is still intact. Built for defence purposes, the wall is now a promenade perfect for taking a leisurely stroll or a more energetic run over its four km distance.

Inside the wall, the city itself has remained intact with fascinating architecture, narrow winding streets and piazzas galore. Lucca is a wonderful city to just walk without a map. Will you get lost? Almost definately, but then again there is a wall surrounding the city so you should make it home for dinner!

Of significance to see is the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. This piazza is the old roman amphitheater with restaurants and apartments now encircling the piazza. You get a wonderful feel for the size and scale of the old amphitheater.

The Piazza San Michele is also a must see. This has been the historic hub of Lucca for over 2,000 years. Previously it held the Roman Forum, but it is now home to the 12th century Church of San Michele. This church is an example of Romanesque architecture. It is interesting to note that the front of the church is larger than the rest of the church and a bit out of scale. This is due to the fact that after 200 years of construction the church was never actually completed as they ran out of money!

There are several bell towers that were built by wealthy families in the 1300’s as a sign of their wealth. Of note is the Torre Guinigi as it has a garden on the roof. Not just your typical backyard garden for growing a few veggies. Noo, this tower has ancient Holm Oak trees. Supposedly the Holm Oak signifies renewal and rebirth.

You will also want to stop by the wonderfully relaxing Piazza Napoleone.

There are many restaurants in the city serving wonderful Tuscan food and wine – at VERY reasonable prices. Something to keep in mind though; I have found that many of the eateries in the pizzas are geared towards tourists (as can be expected), however, amble through some of the side streets and you will be treated to not only a visual parade of lovely old buildings, but also charming restaurants frequented by locals. These are the places you want to dine!

Oh and lastly, while visiting Lucca, the town was gearing up for the 20th anniversary of their summer festival. The main concert is typically held in the Piazza Napoleone, however, this will be a bit small for this year’s act: The Rolling Stones! The town has blocked off about a quarter of the area outside the wall for the 55,000 expected people. Many locals are actually concerned about how the town will handle the onslaught of fans.

Till next time.

Mr. Tipsy