ROF= Ring of fire Odyssey MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus
ITL2 = Italy 2 Tuscany journey
April 13, 2018 Friday Tuscany day4
Lucca, Italy ITL 2/ day 4
Lucca Italy. Now it's starting to get interesting it Italy. Lucca, Italy, UNESCO world heritage site.
Lucca South entrance
The history of civilization coming together and forming political alliances begins here at Lucca, Italy. Lucca was at the beginning of the early cities renaissance era binding together by alliances for protection against enemies and trade. THIS is Western Civilization Ground Zero ancient medieval city.. The Millennia of time that man survived begins to come together here to form political alliances. Machiavelli wrote "The Prince" here.
We parked near the train station and went into Lucca at the South entrance. Luca is a walled City as most medieval towns were their own Fortress to protect from the marauding hordes and Barbarian armies.
The wall is really a stunning engineering feat and looks so impressive from the outside.
You can see three or four tall bell towers of the cathedrals inside the city
Inside Lucca the town's cobblestone streets are narrow and no outside vehicles are allowed inside the wall. Only resident can drive their personal car inside the walls in designated areas. Delivery trucks were in places but it is a walking City.
I'm guessing at the size but I'd say 2+ square miles of the walled city.
A short morning walking around and you can just tell there is just way too much history here to see everything it would take you Month if not years to learn all the history of Lucca.
There's businesses, shops, Plaza's, cathedrals, villas. So much to see you cannot take it in fast enough. You stop and look at something and you're drawn to something else across the street, a cathedral... or down the block that is too interesting to not pursue.
it's afternoon now so stop and get a bite in an open-air Cafe/ restaurant. An appetizer plate of assorted breads, olive oil and balsamic vinegar sprinkled with Italian spices and some cheese. absolutely wonderful.
That probably would have been enough but I had already ordered and here came the pizza topped with prosciutto- cotto/ cured.
More walking and stopped in a cathedral that is just breathtaking.
San Michele in Foro
Italian marble… and the craftsmanship is beyond description it’s so beautiful.
It's late afternoon now and we still have to go find our apartment several miles outside the city. we'll come back for an all-day exploration day after tomorrow. Tomorrow is train down to Pisa, and Livorno on the Mediterranean Sea.
Headed out find Via Segromino in Monte . Stop at Esalunga - an Italian supermarket in Marla for food. We cook local food on these RT- Road Trips. Evening restaurants every other day helps the budget.Thank God we have a GPS to help it was an interesting Drive to find this place.
Loretta has very good taste to decorate this apartment and it is well cleaned and maintained. very good accommodations for tired Travelers. Thank you Loretta ! You're a gracious host!
You never drink twice from the same stream.
Just because you wander doesn't mean you're lost.
Uncle Hargus: Last of the Independents
Have Bear,
Will Travel
StoneBearTracks Copyright Uncle Hargus MCMLXIII ALL blog posts/photographs/video ALL Rights reserved
ALL Blog posts/photographs/video Copyright MCMLXIII ALL Rights Reserved
