Traveling To Lucca: An Overview

Written by Miles Stoppard

Saturday, 14 November 2009 08:41

by MilesStoppard

Traveling to Lucca, a visitor will find that they slowly are taken back in time. It is very easy to take the seventy minute ride to Lucca on the Florence-Viareggio train which leaves Florence at regular intervals throughout the day. Riding along a person can enjoy the beauty and countryside of Tuscany as the train meanders to the North and ends at the Lucca Station.

Near the Serchio River, sitting on a plateau, is the city of Lucca. One immediately notices that the city is surrounded by a medieval forty foot wall. A gentle path leads to the top of the wall and a visitor can take a stroll along all three miles of the sixty foot wide wall and see the entire city of Lucca and the countryside surrounding it. The gardens, piazzas, cathedrals, and homes that lie within the city walls are sheltered and even in the summer provide one with a cool and refreshing place to spend time.

There are shops, cafes, hotels, and things to see and do in every corner of this beautiful city. The main mode of transportation is bicycling or walking and there are very few cars present. The streets are very narrow and many parts of the city retain the original elements of the Romans who built the city. The architecture shows the changes in architecture that occurred during important events in Italian history.

It is very easy to navigate through the city because the piazzas and streets are laid out on the grid pattern that was established when the Romans built the city. The Piazza dell' Antiteatro is on a former Roman amphitheater that is surrounded by beautiful outdoor cafes and shops. During the month of December an outdoor market is held that provide the visitor with an opportunity to purchase many unique items that are handcrafted by the townspeople.

When walking around the walls a person will notice a tower that has oak trees on top. This is the Tower Guinigi and is a must see when visiting. Getting to the tower through the Via Sant'Andrea gives a visitor a chance to wander through a tiny, narrow lane filled with shops, a shoemaker, and antiques. Once at the entry of the Tower one will find that the entire climb of two hundred thirty steps is made easier by the historical pieces, paintings, and drawings that ascend the steps with you.

There are many beautiful piazzas and cathedrals scattered throughout the city. One may visit the Piazza San Michele in the center of the city. This piazza is at the junction of cardo and decumaneus, a Roman street. The cathedral is beautiful and each marble figure in the facade is representative of a statesmen of the age when it was built.

There is a myriad of medieval buildings, shops, and cafes surrounding the piazza. At the top of the cathedral, the archangel Michele is posed with mobile wings. By walking behind the cathedral you will see the stairs that men climbed to move the angel's wings during events. The Taddeucci bakery behind the church sells all of the traditional cakes of Lucca that are wonderful and appetizing.

Traveling to Lucca provides a person with an opportunity to explore both the history and culture of Tuscany and this beautiful town. The people are friendly, warm, and inviting. A person will find that a short stay is impossible when they begin to explore the many lanes, shops, cathedrals, and piazzas that this city offers. Then, there are the parades, festivals, and events that take place daily from September through December. One can watch the spectacular fireworks from the city walls and enjoy the beauty of this wonderful city.

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Click here for more information on Tips for Travelling to Lucca and Enjoying Lucca and Tuscany's countryside Courtesy of Hotel Hambros Lucca

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