Lucca

Earlier this week we took a mini-trip to Lucca, less than a two-hour drive away, and stayed overnight to have time to get the full flavor of this classic renaissance walled city.  We picked the top-rated B&B from Trip Advisor to stay in, Guest Apartment Margherita.  It is in the middle of the ancient town and it was wonderful!  Margherita is a vivacious young woman who spent a lot of time chatting with us and fixing us breakfast despite all the planning she is doing for her wedding in less than a month.  We both agreed that we want to adopt her!

Margherita and us:  say "Fromaggio!"

The kitchen and our bedroom

Just around the corner from our B&B is the Torre Guinigi.  Thirty-eight meters tall, it was built in the 14th century, at a time when newly wealthy merchant families built tall towers on their homes as a prestige symbol, and also as a defensive lookout.  Guinigi Tower has the unique feature of a small grove of trees on top, and so is easily recognized from all parts of the city.

Torre Guinigi, from on top and from around town

Antonio got tired of being bossed around by older brother Lazzaro

As you climb the 230 stairs to the top, there are posters on the walls, done in medieval-art style depiciting the history of the Guinigi family.  At every turn, someone was plotting, warring against, or murdering someone else in the family.  And you thought your family squabbles were bad!







Lucca is most famous for its intact renaissance walls, three layers deep, that entirely encircle the original town.  The main wall is actually an embankment at least 20 meters wide on top.  We rented bicycles and rode the four kilometers around.  Here are some scenes along the way:

Wherever we go in Italy, we see verandas and windows with flower boxes that always make wonderful photo compositions.  Here is a veranda-themed montage from our ride around the wall:

And of course it is getting close to Christmas and the lights and decorations are up, ...

...and there is no shortage of churches to go to--there are 99 of them within the city walls.










Before heading home, we found (as we always are able to do) a cozy trattoria for lunch.