John at the Devil's Bridge

Lucca and beyond

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May 27th 2011
Lucca, situated in Northern Tuscany, is one of the few cities in Europe to have its centre completely surrounded by a wall. The massive wall built in the 16th and 17th centuries is predominantly made of brick and provides a traffic barrier giving the city its special character and atsmosphere. It is a peaceful city with narrow cobbled streets shaded by tall old buildings on either side. Most motor ... read more

Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Lucca

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Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI establis... ... read more