Lucca

The next day we took the train to Lucca.

The Pisa S. Rossore station was just a few minute walk from our hotel.

The train ride took 30 minutes and cost €3.50.

Throughout Italy, you'll find public water faucets with good tasting water.

Lucca is surrounded by a Renaissance wall. 10,000 of its 87,000 inhabitants live within the wall. From the train station, walk towards the wall and enter through the Porta San Pietro.

Inside the wall, you'll find the San Martino Cathedral. Begun in the 11th century, this is the main church of the Republic of Lucca. Admission is €3. 

The interior features frescoed Gothic arches.

On the left side of the nave, you'll find a birdcage-like temple containing the wooden crucifix called Volto Santo.

Continuing north, you'll find Piazza dell'Antiteatro, Lucca's main square. This used to be an amphitheater that could seat 10,000. Today, it serves as the town market.

A block northwest of the Antiteatro, you'll find the Church of San Frediano. This was built in 1112 to rival Lucca's Cathedral. 

The Church of San Michele sits in what used to be the Roman Forum. This was the center of town since Roman times. 

The archangel Michael sits atop the Pisan Romanesque facade. 

The nearby loggia was built in 1495 and the first Renaissance building in town.

Unlike the elaborate exterior, the inside of the church was plain.

On the high altar is a 12th century wooden crucifix.

To the right of the altar hangs "The Four Saints" by Filippino Lippi, a Botticelli student.

Nearby is Buccellato Taddeucci, a bakery famous for Pan Puccini.

The Pan Puccini is a sweet bread with raisins and flavored with anise. A loaf cost €4.50.

According to Rick Steves, the best gelato in town is at De'Coltelli, located on via San Paolino, just off Piazza San Michele. I must agree it was good but the server was rude. One scoop cost €2.30. We chose walnut with candied ginger and marron glace (chestnut).

A statue of Giacomo Puccini sits in Piazza Citadella. Puccini was born in Lucca. 

We came across a group of costumed singers in the piazza.

Looks like the Stones also made an appearance in Lucca (in 2017).

Piazza del Giglio is dominated by the Teatro del Giglio, the number one theater in the city of Puccini.

We ended the walking tour at the San Giovanni Church, the first Cathedral of Lucca. You can attend a free concert every evening at 7pm from April to October.

2017 10 01