Lucca – a wonderful, Renaissance walled city in the Tuscany region of Italy and the birthplace of Puccini.  Also, where the next four days would be spent with friends Judy & Tim, who were met at Italian language school in Verona in 2006!  A lovely little apartment in the center of the old walled city with fabulous views was shared.  It was also great for the daily exercise as it was located on the fourth floor with no elevator – but provided the great views!

The view from our apartment in Lucca. Love the trees on top of the Guinigi tower.

A don’t miss is the Cathedral of Lucca in San Marino Square.  The Cathedral was consecrated in 1070 by Pope Alexander II, formerly the Bishop of Lucca.  A peculiarity is the smaller arch to the right that was squeezed in against the bell tower to its right.  Perhaps not the best of planning??

The beautiful white stone and Gothic style are quite stark in this very plain piazza.

Perhaps one of the main attractions in Lucca is the wall that surrounds the old city.  It has been well maintained and as it lost its military importance, the top of the wall became a pedestrian promenade.  The area around the wall is well taken care of with green grass and trees – in essence becoming a park.

A view from the old wall of the city.

More sights along the wall walk.

Lucca is well situated for day trips to many fascinating places and towns.  One of those proved to be Montecarlo!  That’s NOT Monte Carlo!  Montecarlo is a magical medieval town that sits above Lucca in the Tuscany area of Italy.  It has charming little piazzas, an old wall, a Fortress and the Collegiate Church of Sant’Andrea.  There are also many little ristorantes for libations and rest stops;-)

An evening drive to Montecarlo, with our friends Judy and Tim, provided stunning sights.

Beautiful views from Montecarlo.

Another day another adventure.  Barga sits in the Gargagnana, a lush green valley surrounded by the Apuan Alps and the Apennines.  It is a very authentic, hilltop Tuscan town with the marvelous Cathedral – Collegiate di San Cristoforo, considered one of the most important Romanesque examples in all of Tuscany.

The striking Romanesque Cathedral sits overlooking the town from its high perch.

A very interesting Techno_lithic exhibit, which appeared to be the result of this year’s annual workshop, was displayed along the side of the Cathedral.  Even more interesting is that ASU regularly participates in this workshop!

The Digital Stone Project sculpture garden.

Interesting sculptures.

And, with that look into the future it was time for us to consider the trip home.  The next day would literally be trains, planes and automobiles;-)  A very long day to come, but the sweetness of the trip comes with a little bitter of the travel to and from.  And – it has been a very fun adventure.

It is the friends, however, that make the best part of a trip.  We were blessed to begin and end with friends.  Rheta and Tom made the cruise extra special and Judy and Tim made the last few days of our trip a perfect ending.

E&G – Thankful to have the ability to travel and the friends to make it FUN!