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Lucca is famous for its walls - they are largely intact and wide and tall enough that you can walk and ride bikes along the top. That's because they a brick faced with dirt behind them - the town is essentially built in a raised surround.
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Just
to be sure that you're getting off the train in Lucca.... |
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The
front of the train station |
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A
view of the walls near the porta |
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Aviva
with a lion that's part of the inner ramparts |
We walked through one of the Portas through the wall and ended up behind the Duomo.
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The
tower of the Duomo from the wall |
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The
rear of the Duomo |
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The
front facade of the Duomo |
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A
detail from the front of the Duomo |
It was the third Sunday of June and so the streets were full of antique sellers. The wares were very nice but also very expensive.
We walked through the tables and went to S. Giovanni e S. Reparata; the original church, S. Reparata, was build in the 500s AD, and the current church was built over the old church - excavations are visible under the floor showing the original church.
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| Ticket
for S. Giovanni |
Ticket
to go under the church |
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The
facade of S. Giovanni |
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A
detail of the top of S. Giovanni |
We walked along some more and stopped in St. Michael's, which has a very special top part of its facade.
After a cold snack at a bar, we went over to S. Frediano, who is a local saint - his remains are buried under the church. It was first built in the 600's AD and the interior redone in the 12th century (and the interior was reoriented 180 degrees). A wedding started while we were inside - when the bride came down the aisle, everyone stood and clapped - it was quite wonderful! One member of the wedding party was wearing a very short black dress - seemed a bit improper but then this is Italy after all!
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A
detail of the mosaic at the top of S. Frediano |
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A
detail from the frescoes inside S. Frediano |
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The
body of a saint inside S. Frediano |
Send
email to Bob at electricbob@alephnaught.com
Send
email to Aviva at avivakramer@earthlink.net
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