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Village Italy 2007 - Friends, Experiences, and Memories
A Journey through the real Italy on a Rick Steves' tour |
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| Lucca |
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Nina introduces us to Lucca.
Did I mention the "talking with the hands?"
Nina talks with the group outside our hotel. 
Lucca's Guinigi tower (with the trees growing on top) We arrived in Lucca mid afternoon. Nina gave us a tour of Lucca inside the city walls. There were several interesting paper sculptures on display in various locations. It seems Lucca was having a “paper” exhibition at the time. Apparently, Lucca has the perfect climate for paper production and this drives a sizeable segment of the economy.
Medieval looking ornament in Lucca 
Lucca's San Marino
Bikes (a major form of transportation in Lucca) line the portal into the old Roman amphitheater. Notice the "caterpillar" paper sclupture.
Day 10 - Monday, 24-September-2007
After breakfast, we went to visit a couple of villas near Lucca. The gardens were interesting and the villas themselves were like being in a museum, only better because there are no “ropes” to keep you away from the treasures.The very wide city walls are intact all the way around the town. You can rent bikes and ride the walls or just take leisurely walks. The walls date back to Renaissance in the 16th and 17th centuries when they were originally built to defend Lucca against Florence (the enemy). Florence never attacked Lucca, so the walls were never “put to the test”. But they are, let me say, substantial. It’s a few kilometers around the old city, with six main gates and many smaller entrances called “sortie”. Outside the walls, is a huge open space that was originally cleared to keep the enemy from taking cover in the trees and underbrush. The open space serves to separate the smaller old Lucca from the surrounding town. The day we arrived, Lucca was very, very busy and the streets were packed with people celebrating. There was a festival going on. After the tour, Cathy and I went to a local deli and got a couple of foccacia sandwiches with ham, fresh mozzarella, and olive oil. We walked the wall and had a picnic. The sandwich was one of the best we had. There was a fire close by, so the smoke made for an eerie view around part of the wall.
We returned to Lucca and had the afternoon free. Cathy and I climbed the Guinigi tower with the trees on the top (130 stairs to the top). The trees were planted by tower guards who were tired of standing on top of the tower in the hot sun. After being on top of the tower in the hot sun, it’s easy to see why they planted the trees. Next, we visited Duomo San Marino that houses the “cross that miraculously finished itself” and “was destined to come to Lucca”. We also toured the archeological ruins under Chiesa di San Giovanni. The excavations below the church include many interesting mosaic fragments in the ruins.
Since my Italian was "pretty weak", the shop clerk tried to help me translate the card. Unfortunately, her English was almost as weak as my Italian. But… we picked out a card that looked pretty funny and even had a guy in the hospital with a broken leg. (We thought this might be appropriate because Steve had injured his leg on his last Rick Steves’ tour and had to walk around on crutches for a few days…). Karin later translated the card and we found out that it was perfect.
Steve’s birthday was coming up, so Deana “put me in charge” of getting a birthday card. I found a carditeria (a place to get greeting cards) with a few choices (not rows and rows of cards like card shops in the US).
We visited the festival market and had fresh donuts made with a hint of lemon flavor (They were so good, I had two!). Cathy bought a couple of scarves for herself and Lindsey.
In the evening, we walked the walls again and had dinner at a restaurant near Lucca’s amphitheater or “round square”. At dinner, we shared a table with other Americans and were surprised to hear them talking about our hometown. What a small world we live in!
Later, we also met Anna, a colorful local with a rich history. Anna ex-husband once owned the villa we visited. Because of Italian inheritance laws (where the children inherit property from the father), Anna lives in a smaller, second house on the property - even though she was not married to the owner at the time of his death. Anna shared stories of her life and travels and let us tour her house. After the villas, we had a group lunch – adequate, but not the best lunch on the tour.
Everywhere you explore is a different theme
Whether beautiful or whimsical, the statues at the villas provide a wide variety of styles
The chimneys on the roof are designed to imitate some of the historic towers in Lucca.
Security gates keep some Lucca villas private. 
Beautifully landscaped gardens frame the villa. 
Lucca's clock tower 
An entrance through Lucca's old wall. The walls are so wide, it's more like a cave. 
In the gardens at the villa. 
Cherubs are a popular theme for garden statues. 
T
he fountain added a relaxing sound. 
Statue in the fountain at the villa 
Villa Olivia from the back. 
Businesses and houses line the inside walls
Anna's house on the villa grounds. 
Colorful out building at Anna's. 
Anna shares her rich history with the group 
Architectural control require shutters to be green (or white) 
Across Lucca, you can see the beginning of the Apuan Alps 
View out the stairway of the tower.
Curved houses circle the amphitheater. 
Another great tower in Lucca. 
Detail on San Marino 
More tower views... 
and still more views... 
View from the tower. 
Jim and Cathy at lunch near the villas. 
Jim enjoys the shade on Guinigi tower 
Cathy takes in the view from Guinigi tower 
View from the tower. 
Colorful handbags and scarves in the festival market in Lucca.
An alter painted on a wall in Lucca.
The old amphitheater. 
The views just keep coming... 
Wendy and Diane share our table at lunch. 
Here's an unusual statue in a secluded corner of the garden, I'm not sure which end is the head.
Lucca is famous for it's towers
Antique machinery and bright colors decorate our lunchtime retreat. 
Cherubs everywhere! 
Walking back to bus after lunch 
Olive groves near the villas. 
Moss covering enhances the appearance of this statue. 
Geometric garden designs
The lemon house at the villa. Lemon houses are used to shelter the 100's of citrus plants during cold weather
The vine(s) growing inside the lemon house are actually a single plant.
The grounds around the villa are truly magnificent.
This guy looks mischievous 
Whimsical faces on the entry gate
Olives at the Deli where we bought our sandwiches.
Jim found a friend on a wall at the villa. 
Deana and Steve take a break while riding Lucca's wide walls. 
^^ Steve's Birthday card ^^
^^ Steve's Birthday Card ^^
