Monday, December 31, 2018

Lucca, Italy 2018 Driving through Tuscany

Tracks of the StoneBear Copyright MCMLXIII Uncle Hargus ALL Rights reserved

ROF= Ring of fire Odyssey  MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus

Original post: Driving through Tuscany  

ITL2 = Italy 2  Tuscany journey            



Lucca  1   Ahh Toscana 

Tracks of the StoneBear Copyright MCMLXIII Uncle Hargus ALL Rights reserved

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, South gate.



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. Unlike the stupid US mentality that thinks a wall in 2019 will keep anything out. And these points, walking and the horse were transportation; no airplanes to fly over the wall. Oh, and the mentality of that walled protection; They thought the world was flat.





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 Essalunga - 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          




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