Biking on the Ramparts of Lucca

---

Day 14 Lucca

We rented bikes today and rode around on the city walls (4.2 kilometers, and we went around twice...) in the warm sun....the city is very liveable...compact and with many no-car areas. They are beginning to take down the many, many tents that cover each of the plazas, put up for the giant comic/gaming fair over the weekend. Hopefully some will be gone before we leave.

After our bike ride we walked around the city, looking at the major sights, wandering the tiny alleys and passages, walking through the old gates, strolling the ramparts, and just savoring this wonderful city...We bought things for dinner in a bakery near the Ducal Palace and ate in our room.

The evening light here is so soft....I went out again at dusk, to see my favorite church, St Michele, once again. I walked back on the ramparts as the sun set and a full moon rose over Lucca.

This is my favorite town, after Venice, so far....

We are off to Sienna tomorrow.

---

Photos

On the Ramparts, Lucca
The trees were planted later, but the walls were begun 1500s. The walls turned out to be unnecessary, since Lucca was never attacked again....

View from our hotel, the Universo
Chet Baker was a regular here, and was actually imprisioned in Lucca for over a year on drug charges.

My favorite church in Lucca...or anywhere
This is San Michele dei Foro..built at the site of the Roman Forum. The front has nothing religious on it, except the statue of St. Michael slaying a dragon on the very top. The rest of the art is mostly animals...

Street with posters for the Comics convention.
This is the 43rd year it's been held in Lucca.

Comments

[breta]

Puccini
Puccini says, "get your hand off my knee, Bill!" Your blog is just great. Thanks for taking the time. Next time I go traveling it will be at my pace. Slowly getting lost. I have a high school friend visiting for a few days. More later.

[Athena]

baker in tuskany
Amazing! I have a photo taken from a magazine where Chet Baker plays trumpet in front of a window with the exact same view as this. I can send it to you if you like.