Do you want to organize a trip to the city of arts of Lucca and need accurate information? Want to know. why do tourists adore this medieval Italian city and are in no hurry to leave here? A short city guide will help you.
Briefly about the history of the city
Lucca hotels and satellite map
Where to stay in the cityHotel Noblesse |
What museums are worth visiting
The great Italian opera composer was born in Lucca Giacomo Puccini... Visit the House-Museum of the composer and learn about the stages of his life and work, see family portraits, letters and notes of the composer, as well as the famous Steiway piano, on which the masterpiece was created Turandot... (1926). Address: Piazza San Michele. The entrance ticket costs 7 euros. Timetable:
Pinakothek Palazzo Muncie - for art lovers. Here are mainly canvases of the 19th century. You can also enjoy the works Tintoretto, Titian, Ghirlandaio, Veroneseand Domenichino... Address: Via Galli Tassi, 43 (on the map)... The entrance ticket costs 4 euros. Timetable:
Working days: from 8.30 to 19.30
Weekends and Mondays: closed
Villa Guinigi National Museum (on via della Quarquonia). Among the many exhibits from different eras, Painted cross Berlingiero Berlingieri, SorrowMatteo Civitali, Ecstasy of St. Catherine of Siena work Pompeo Batoni, Madonna of Mercy Florentine artist Fra Bartolomeo... Timetable:
Tuesday - Saturday: 8.30 am to 7.30 pm
In July and August, also open on Sunday from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm
Day off - Monday
Image gallery - Villa Guinigi:
Media world - Via delle Cornacchie 960, Località Le Catena 55100 Lucca What elseTake the opportunity to cycle along the city wall. There is a lake just a few kilometers from the city. Lago di massaciuccoli... Take a boat trip and enjoy the magnificent panorama. Routes in the reserve have been developed for naturalists igliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli. Restaurants and pizzerias in Lucca - editor's choiceOsteria del "Vecchio Pazzo" - Via di Matraia, San Pancrazio - 55100 Lucca Tel 0583-579131 How to get to the city of LuccaBy plane - nearest airports: Pisa airport "G. Galilei" By bus: Lucca Bus Station is located on Piazzale Verdi in the historic city center. By train: Lucca train station is located behind the ramparts near the S. Pietro gate in the square Piazza ricasoli. From Florence: railway S. Maria Novella station
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Lucca - a small town with a population of approx. 83 thousand in the region c.
In the II century BC. Etruscan city Lucca, located in the valley of the Serchio River, became a Roman colony. In the ancient period, the city became one of the largest military camps of the Roman Empire and was already rich enough, and by the XIII century Lucca had become a major shopping center in Europe and one of the first to establish contacts with the Eastern countries. The city remained independent until the arrival of Napoleon, who conquered the Tuscan lands and handed Lucca over to his sister Elise Baciiocchi, who ruled here until 1814. Then the Lucanian province inappropriately went to the Parma Bourbons, in 1847 it was returned to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and after 14 years it entered the United Kingdom of Italy.
by the walls(XVI-XVII centuries). Their length is 4200 m.
You can lay half a day for the inspection of Lucca.
Find your way:
From the station to piazza Ricasoli (Piazza Ricasoli), located to the south of the city walls, you can walk in the direction of the northwest to piazza Risorgimento (piazza Risorgimento) and through porta San Pietro gate (Porta San pietro) - inside walls. In the north direction to the city center leads via Vittorio veneto (via Vittorio Veneto) through piazza Napoleone (Napoleon's piazza) and further to piazza San Michele (Piazza San Michele).
Attractions Lucca:
The city is renowned for its well-preserved defensive by the walls(XVI-XVII centuries). Their length is 4200 m. Powerful walls (height - 12 m, width - 35 m) and bastions are in good condition, partly due to the fact that the city from the time of their construction practically did not take part in hostilities. At the end of the 19th century, an unusual city park was laid out on the defensive fortifications - several rows of plane trees were planted here, wide alleys were laid, children's and sports grounds were arranged.
There are many temples in Lucca - it is sometimes called the "City of a Hundred Churches". Na piazza San Martino (Piazza San Martino) is the most important of them - the cathedral the cathedralSan Martino).
Lucca Tourist Route:
It starts from the station and passes by the main attractions of the city. The entire route - 3.5 km - can be walked in a couple of hours.
The construction of the temple began in 1063 by order of Bishop Anselm, the future Pope Alexander II. The Romanesque apses and the bell tower were preserved, however, the nave and transepts were rebuilt in the 14th century, already in the Gothic style.
At the entrance to the cathedral, one of the pilasters on the right side is cut maze... An ancient Latin inscription to the right of him says that this is an image of a labyrinth built by Daedalus in Crete, from which no one could find a way out, except Theseus, who was saved by the love and thread of Ariadne. Similar labyrinths are found in other Italian churches.
In the center of the right nave is volto santo chapel(Chapella Volto Santo, Matteo Civitali, 1484), where the main relic of Lucca is kept - a wooden crucifix. According to an ancient legend, the image of Christ was carved from the Lebanese cedar by the evangelical Nicodemus, who was present at the crucifixion. Volto Santo has been kept in Lucca since the 8th century, and every year, on September 13, a grandiose procession is dedicated to it.
Sarcophagus of Ilaria del Caretto(1406) is kept in the sacristy. The ruler of Lucca, Paolo Guinigi, commissioned it to the Sienese sculptor Jacopo della Quercia to perpetuate the memory of his wife, who died in her youth. This marble tombstone is considered to be one of the most valuable works of art in Lucca. In the cathedral there is another work of the same master - the statue of John the Baptist, as well as works by Ghirlandaio, Tintoretto and Fra Bartolomeo.
The western and northern facades of the cathedral go out respectively to piazza San Martino (piazza San Martino) and piazza Antelminelli (Piazza Anthelminelli), from home via Duomo (via Duomo) leads to churches of San Giovanni(Chiesa di San Giovanni) on the same area.
Chiesa di san giovanni
The church was rebuilt many times and suffered greatly during the French occupation. on the façade (1589) there is a 12th century Romanesque portal, in the interior three naves are separated by antique Roman columns, a wooden coffered ceiling dates back to the 16th century.
Giglio theater
The neighborhood is piazza Giglio (piazza Giglio), where there is the opera house of the same name giglio theater(Teatro del Giglio, 1819). At the beginning of the 19th century, this stage was extremely popular in Italy and made a worthy competitor to the theaters of San Carlo in Naples and La Scala in Milan.
The city planning has been preserved since ancient times. Via Cenami (via Chenami) and via Fillungo (via Fillungo), going from north to south, and also via S. Paolino (via San Paolino), via Roma (via Roma) and via Santa Croce (via Santa Croce) in the west - east direction divides Lucca into four parts. Near their intersection, there was a city forum, in the place of which is now located piazzaSanMicheleinForo(piazza San Michele in Foro), or simply Foro (Foro).
Chiesa di San Michele in Foro
Here is a church San Michele in Foro(Chiesa di San Michele in Foro), which was built over several centuries. The lower ypyc of the main façade is made in the Romanesque style, the other levels are decorated with gothic loggias (XIII century). The bell tower dates back to the XIV century.
On the main façade, there is a marble sculpture of the Archangel Michael with metal wings. It is said in the city that one rich parishioner, amazed by the beauty of San Michele, donated an emerald to the church, a stone was inserted into a ring on the archangel's hand, and now local residents and tourists are gazing up into the sky, hoping to catch a green glint.
- San Michele in Foro
- Piazza San Michele in Foro
- 08.00–12.00, 15.00– 18.00
Casa di Puccini
Next to the church of San Michele is located up to m Puccini(Casa di Puccini), where the Italian composer was born in 1858.
Inside there is a museum dedicated to the composer's life; documents, photographs and musical instruments are kept here.
- House of Puccini
- Corte San Lorenzo, 9
- summer Tue – Sun 10.00–18.00, winter Tue – Sun 10.00–13.00, 15.00–18.00
Torre della ore
On the other side via Fillungo worth Clock toweri am(Torre della ore, 50 m). The tower itself dates back to the 13th century, and the clock was made in 1754 in Geneva.
Guinji Tower
A little further is guinigi tower(Torre guinigi, 1384), she is the "Tower with a garden", which is considered one of the symbols of the city. evergreen trees really grow on its upper platform (41 m). Once the tower itself and the palace, to which it adjoins, belonged to the Guinigi family, but now they are owned by the municipality. In the late 1980s, this apxitecture monument was restored and opened to the public (230 steps lead to the observation deck).
- Guinigi Tower
- Via Sant'Andrea, 45
- daily March – Sep. 09.00-19.30, Oct. 10.00–18.00, Nov – Feb 10.00-16.30, Dec 25 closed
Romanesque church of San Frediano
Romanesque church San Frediano(Chiesa di san frediano, reconstructed XII century) - one of the most ancient temples of Lucca. The façade is decorated with a golden mosaic (Berlingiero di Milanese, 13th century) depicting the ascension of Christ. In the interior, attention is drawn to the Romanesque font, the organ of the 16th century and the altar, under which the relics of St. Fridian, Bishop of Lucca (d. 588).
- Church of San Frediano
- Via degli Angeli, 19
Via Fillungo goes to piazza dell'Anfiteatro (piazza del Anfitheatro). The Roman amphitheater has long been gone - it was dismantled back in the Middle Ages, however, the construction of the square exactly repeats the arena's plan.
Palazzo Muncie
From the church of San Frediano to via San Giorgio (via San Giorgio) you can go to the intersection c via Galli Tassi(via Galli-Tassi), where it stands palazzo Muncie (Palazzo mansi, XVI century). Currently, the building is located ( Pinacoteca Nazionale), where there are works by Tintoretto and Luca Giordano, in addition, you can see the chambers of the palazzo, where the furnishings of the 17th century have been preserved.
- Palazzo Muncie
- National art gallery
- Via Galli Tassi, 43
- daily 09.00-19.00, Sun, Holidays until 14.00,
- Jan 1, May 1 and Dec 25, Mon closed
Lucca Map:
Lucca is one of the 4 Italian cities where the fortress wall of the 16th century has completely survived, and the only city where people adapted it for life, turning it into a park. Walk through the medieval streets of Lucca, climb the towers, sit in a cafe on the square, feel the ancient spirit of the city.
Lucca Photo Leigh Trail
Lucca is a city of towers, luxurious palazzo and temples of the Trecento era, one of the most romantic corners of Tuscany. Behind the stone walls of its old center, a leisurely patriarchal life flows.
5 things to do in Lucca
- Get to know Lucca while walking along the ancient fortress walls that surround the Old Town, which today have turned into a park.
- Gain strength and patience to climb the observation deck of the 44-meter Guinigi Tower. There, standing in the shade of the "oak grove", enjoy the panorama of the city.
- To honor the memory of the great composer Giacomo Puccini, a native of Lucca, by standing by his monument. Enter the museum to see the scores, letters, personal belongings and the famous piano of the musician behind which Turandot was written.
- Drink coffee and gawk at passers-by, sitting in a cozy cafe on the square, built on the site of an ancient Roman amphitheater.
- Check if the building of the Church of San Michele in Foro really looks like a ship. Admire and appreciate the beauty and originality of the openwork loggias.
When is the best time to go
Lucca is located in the Tuscan Riviera, among the wooded hills, at the foot of the Pisa Mountains and the Apuan Alps. The city stands by the Serkyo River, surrounded by a swampy, humid valley. The climate in winter is moderately warm and humid: it rains mainly in November. Summer is dry and hot, with minimum precipitation in July. Average annual temperature + 14.4 ° C; in July-August the heat reaches + 28-29 ° C, in January the thermometer drops to + 2 ° C.
Spring (April - May) is the best time to visit Lucca. The city is awakening, everything is blooming around, the heat has not yet come, the prices for hotels and services have not yet increased.
sights
Botanical Garden
Fortress wall
Cathedral of St. Martin
Church of St. John and Reparata
Lilia Theater
Church of St. Michael at the Forum
House-Museum of Puccini
Palazzo Muncie Museum
Clock tower
Guinigi Tower
Amphitheater Square
Basilica of St. Fridian
Fortress wall
The old center of Lucca is surrounded by a fortress wall (Mura di Lucca) about 4.5 km long with 11 bastions, 6 outer and 3 inner gates. They built it for defense from external enemies and protection from the waters of Serkyo, advancing on the city. In the 19th century, the wall was planted with plane trees. Today, when viewed from above, it looks like a green velvet necklace that wraps around the city. This is the main park of the city with bike paths and walking paths. Restaurants are open in the former bastions, and street cafes work upstairs. Mura di Lucca is often the backdrop for concerts and street performances.
Amphitheater Square
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, photo r3dm @ r
The ensemble of the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro (Piazza dell'Anfiteatro) was built on the site of the 2nd century Roman amphitheater. The oval space, which has retained the shape of the ancient arena of gladiatorial battles, is surrounded by Renaissance buildings. There are 4 gates leading to the square.
Clock tower
Clock Tower (Torre delle ore), photo by Graham Tiller
The main feature of Lucca is the watchtowers and church campaniles: here and there they rise among the tiled roofs. In the XIV century, there were 250 such structures, only 130 have survived, many are equipped with observation platforms.
The highest is the 50-meter Clock Tower (Torre delle ore) (XIII century) with a belfry and a clock installed in 1754.
Guinigi Tower
Guinigi Tower (Torre Guinigi), photo by Joe Lewit
A unique building is the Romano-Gothic Tower of Guinigi (1384). Stone oaks were planted at the top of this 44-meter building in the 15th century. The trees are still growing.
Cathedral of Saint Martin
Cathedral of St. Martin (Cattedrale di San Martino) - a temple in the Gothic style with a quadrangular bell tower, was founded in the VI century; it acquired its present form in the XI century. Its facade, renovated in the 13th century, has amazing columns. Among them, no two are alike: each is decorated with unique carvings, reliefs, inlays. Inside, there are paintings by Ghirlandaio and Tintoretto, Bartolomeo, Allori, sculptures by Giambologna and Civitali, a marble tomb by Jacopo Quercia.
Church of Saints John and Reparaty
Church of Saints John and Reparata (Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata), photo by emzepe
In the Piazza San Giovanni, there is the Church of St. Reparata and nearby is the Baptistery of St. John. The temples were built at the end of the 12th century. on the site of an ancient sanctuary (5th century). The complex of buildings of the Church of St. John and the Martyr Reparata (Chiesa dei Santi Giovanni e Reparata) combines features of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque architecture. Under it, archaeologists have found the remains of ancient thermal baths, an early Christian church and crypts from the Lombard era.
Church of St. Michael at the Forum
Basilica of San Michele in Foro (Chiesa di San Michele in Foro), photo by Gregory
Church of San Michele in Foro (Chiesa di San Michele in Foro) - a temple in the Romano-Lombard style with 4 rows of openwork loggias. It was built in the XII century on the site of the ancient forum, where in the VIII century. there was an older church. The building resembles a huge ship, on the rostrum of which stands the 4-meter figure of the Archangel Michael, framed by two angels.
Basilica of Saint Fridian
Basilica of St. Fridian (Basilica di San Frediano), photo by Richard Barrett-Small
Basilica di San Frediano (Basilica di San Frediano) was founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 12th century in the Lombard style. Byzantine mosaics are made over the portal. Inside there is a Romanesque round marble font with elaborate bas-reliefs from the life of the Prophet Moses. The relics of Saint Zita rest in San Fridiano.
Villa Torrigiani
Villa Torrigiani, photo by Elena Battini
Villa Torrigiani is a prime example of secular baroque in Tuscany. Built in the 16th century for the Bonvisi family, reconstructed by order of the Marquis Nicolao Santini (ambassador of the Republic of Lucca at the court of Louis XIV) after the model of the Versailles palaces.
Lilia Theater
The Teatro del Giglio (Teatro del Giglio), founded in 1672, has undergone several reconstructions. The ruler of Tuscany, Maria-Louise Bourbon, named it after the flower of the emblem of the Bourbon dynasty. Today the theater hosts concerts of symphonic music and dance programs; ballet, opera and drama performances.
Villa Guinigi National Museum
The Museum of Villa Guinigi (Museo nazionale di Villa Guinigi) on Via della Quarquonia contains architectural and sculptural exhibits, fossils, paintings of the 13th – 18th centuries.
Mansi Palace Museum
Museum of the Palazzo Mansi (Museo di Palazzo Mansi), photo sailko
The Palazzo Mansi Museum (Museo di Palazzo Mansi) is the National Museum and Pinakothek. The Renaissance Mansi Palace has preserved the original furnishings of the 16th – 18th centuries. Old fabrics, tapestries, weaving devices are exhibited here; the National Pinakothek was opened with a collection of paintings by Leopold II, Duke of Tuscany. The collection includes works by Tintoretto, Titian, Veronese.
House-Museum of Puccini
Monument to Giacomo Puccini next to the house where the musician was born (Casa Natale di Giacomo Puccini), photo by vincenzo baldassarre
House-Museum of Giacomo Puccini (Puccini Museum) is located on Corte San Lorenzo 9. The composer was born there on December 22, 1858, spent his childhood and youth. In the museum you will see Puccini's personal belongings, the originals of his letters and scores, the grand piano behind which the opera Turandot was written.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden (Orto botanico comunale di Lucca), photo fabcom
The Botanical Garden (Orto botanico comunale di Lucca) was founded by the decree of Marie-Louise, Duchess of Lucca in 1820. About 200 species of plants have been planted on 2 hectares, there is a pond where the mystical shows "Murabilia" are held in autumn.
History paragraph
City view, photo by Marian Bulacu
The city was founded by the Etruscans in 218 BC. e. After 40 years, the settlement was occupied by the Romans, destroying it completely and rebuilding it. The empire fell under the onslaught of the Goths, then the Lombards and Franks came. After the fall of the Carolingians, Lucca became the capital of the Tuscan marque. From 1378 until the arrival of Napoleon, it was an independent republic. After the expulsion of the Bonapartes, Lucca belonged to the Duchy of Tuscany, then to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Since 1861, it has become part of a unified Italy.
On July 11-12, the city honors the heavenly patron Saint Peacock. The Palio di San Paolino festival opens with a solemn procession with banners. The most striking event is the crossbowmen tournament.
Lucca hosts the Lucca Summer Festival in July. It takes place in the open air on Napoleon Square.
In August - the international Puccini festival (Festival Puccini).
September 13-14 - the main religious holiday - the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. Residents come to venerate the relics - the Holy Face, the crucifix, which is kept in the Cathedral. The procession with candles is attended by believers from all city parishes.
Lucca hosts the Lucca Comics and Games every year between October and November. Since 1993, he has also covered the topic of computer games and simulations. For 4 days, the festival brings together the leading masters of the genre and many tourists.
Cuisine and restaurants
The local cuisine is simple and tasty. Among soups, the spring Garmucha soup with peas, onions, asparagus, artichokes, green beans in beef broth with pieces of meat and brisket is popular. Try Matuffi, a cornmeal porridge with mushrooms and parmesan cheese or meat sauce. Traditional main courses: Rovellina - beef, cut into thin slices, fried and stewed in a sauce of tomatoes, capers and herbs; pork with chestnut flour polenta; rabbit in a sauce of tomatoes, red pepper, olives, onions and garlic, herbs; fried kid with artichokes; trout from the river Serkio on a spit; dried cod (baccala), fried with chickpeas; vegetable casseroles using cauliflower, green beans, spinach, artichokes, and beets.
For those with a sweet tooth, try buccellato, a sweet pie with raisins and anise; necci - chestnut flour pancakes stuffed with ricotta; castagnaccio - chestnut flour pie with pine nuts and raisins.
For wines, taste the white and red Montecarlo DOC and Colline Lucchesi DOC, as well as the herbal liqueur Biadina, produced only in Lucca.
Traditional Tuscan cuisine can be tasted at Trattoria da Leo (Via Tegrimi 1). For a bite to eat, go to Forno A Vapore Amedeo Giusti (Via Santa Lucia 18/20). Locanda Eremo del Gusto (Via Gelli 35/37 - Petrognano - Capannori) is renowned for its magnificent views of the city. Caffè di Simo (Via Fillungo, 58) serves the best breakfast (cappuccino + cornetto for € 3-4) in an Art Nouveau interior. The Buca di Sant'Antonio restaurant (Via Cervia, 3) offers gourmet cuisine. For dinner, head to Vineria I Santi at 17 Piazza dell'Anfiteatro or Vecchia Trattoria Buralli at 10 Piazza Sant'Agostino.
Shopping
On the main shopping street of Lucca, photo by mikewinburn
Every third weekend of the month, antique markets open in many of the city's squares, which are considered the best in Italy.
Via Fillungo is Lucca's main shopping street with Max Mara, Armani, Missoni boutiques, simpler shops and souvenir shops.
The Enoteca Vanni store (Piazza del Salvatore 7) has a rich selection of Italian wines that you can taste before buying.
Not far from the city is the Migliarino Natural Park (Parco naturale di Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli). There are different ecosystems on its territory - from wetlands to sand dunes. Its central part is occupied by a protected area of \u200b\u200b5,000 hectares - San Rossore. Rare birds and ungulates live there. The park complex includes the picturesque Massaciuccoli Lake - a well-equipped recreation area where you can relax and ride a boat.
Lucca is another city that everyone loves. I found some kind of bourgeois research, and so, according to it, Lucca leaves the most positive emotions among tourists, leaving behind in this rating. I confirm that the city is very pleasant and interesting, just some kind of resort in its atmosphere. All this grace is difficult to formalize in words, but I will try to convey it visually in my report on Lucca.
Lucca Attractions Map:
I got to Lucca by train from, the cities are located very close, so the road took me less than half an hour. If you go from, it will be a little longer, about an hour and a half. In general, the location of the city from the point of view of the usual tourist routes in Tuscany is very convenient.
Already at the station, I felt the local grace. It was not purely Italian around, there were no homeless people and migrants, there was even a working fountain and a reading girl in the station square.
Lucca city wall
Lucca is one of the four unique Italian cities where the city wall has completely (!) Survived. This is clearly visible on the map above, the entire central historical part of Lucca is fenced around the perimeter.
I crossed the station square and saw ... a blank wall. Fortunately, it was not so early, people were rushing to the center, and I followed him. It turned out that a narrow passage to the city was hidden behind this bend in the wall of the bastion.
A large park is arranged at the top along the entire length of the wall. You can walk around all of Lucca without leaving the wall.
At nine in the morning, the walls are pretty deserted, mostly runners. There is a good distance for them, if you run around the whole of Lucca along the wall, you get a run of four and a half kilometers.
Just outside the wall I came across a local cathedral. It was unexpected, for some reason I thought that the main temple of Lucca should be in the center of the city, and not at the very wall. It turned out that during the construction of the cathedral there was no place in the densely built-up center of the ancient city, because he found himself on the very outskirts of the city.
I wandered around the neighborhood a bit looking for the main entrance to the Duomo.
Cathedral of st. Martina (12)
The first thought that came to me when I saw the facade of the cathedral: "Ha, yes, they licked it off from Pisa." And, indeed, the Cathedral of Lucca was built to surpass its rival neighbor.
Admire the facade of St. Martin is endless, there are so many details.
The image of the labyrinth. On the right is the inscription "the same labyrinth that Daedalus built on Crete, from where anyone who enters there will not be able to find a way out, except Theseus, who was saved by the love and thread of Ariadne." Lucca stood at the crossroads of pilgrimage routes, and the labyrinth was supposed to remind pilgrims of the difficulty of their journey. Although in Lucca the scale of the labyrinth is much more modest,.
As I said, you can endlessly look at the facade, but I will limit myself to just one more picture. Above in the stone are scenes from the life of St. Martin of Tours, and the bottom row shows the calendar and the signs of the zodiac. Each month is symbolized by a scene from the life of peasants. I was especially touched by a picture where a man tramples grapes in a large vat.
The Roman guards came out slightly comical. They have a very theatrical fright.
The cathedral houses Lucca's main masterpiece. Mr. Vasari and Muratov completely agree with me, and I will quote the latter.
The best thing in this city was created by a stranger, the great Sienese sculptor Jacopo della Quercia. In the cathedral, this contemporary and worthy rival Donatello made a tombstone for the young Ilaria del Caretto. A young woman rests on the lid of the sarcophagus in a sleeping or resting position, her beloved dog lies at her feet. Around the sarcophagus there is a frieze of babies supporting very heavy garlands. Quercia added nothing more, as if he deliberately even took away all amusement from the cupids who so often entertain and annoy with their smiles on the Florentine tombs. The slenderness and seriousness of the monument is not violated by anything, the young woman is deeply immersed in the royal sleep of death. The grandeur of the theme is simply and strongly expressed in the rhythm that guides the massive garlands of vines.
Ilaria is beautiful and seems to be asleep, it looks like she is waiting for her prince, who would revive her with his kiss. But, perhaps, there will be enough enthusiasm and affection, otherwise the attentive reader will suspect something: “It is amazing that he did not describe a single male deceased, as if men do not die. But they, of course, die, but only travel blogger Koshak at all He is not interested in them. He brought out a whole boarding school of stone deceased - and not old women (not a single one), but all young and pretty. "
Iliria's beloved dog guards the mistress's eternal sleep.
41. Church of Santi Giovanni e Reparata
In the same square as the Cathedral of Lucca, there is another notable church. By the way, it was she who was the local cathedral for the first time, and only in the 7th century the cathedral moved to neighboring San Martino.
It was not my goal to go to all the churches of Lucca. For myself, I have designated the three most significant churches, and e-Reparata was not included in them purely.
The facade of the church, as you saw in the previous picture, is more modern, but some details have survived from Romanesque architecture, for example, lyou made a merry fuss on the facade.
How I like these streets.
With a very compact area of \u200b\u200bthe city, there are a huge number of churches here. Almost every second building is a temple. Most of them are not marked in the tourist map and are awarded only a couple of lines on the wiki, for example, San giusto, only the 12th century, there is such a bulk.
I say there is something in Lucca. Let's say a flower pot.
And look how decent people are here.
20. Clock tower
Torre delle ore was built at the end of the 14th century. Of course, she still did not have a dial at that time, the time was celebrated with the sound of bells. You can climb the tower, but I do not recommend doing this, because in Lucca there is a much more interesting tower, but about it a little later.
An urban legend about the fatal beauty Lucida Muncie is associated with the Clock Tower. According to which Lucida sold her soul to the devil in exchange for 30 years of youth and beauty. When the time came to an end, Lucida ran up the tower to hold the bell and stop the passage of time. But then a carriage enveloped in hellfire appeared to the tower and took Lucida to the underworld. Allegedly, this carriage can still be seen at night on the streets of the city.
IN San Cristoforo the Leonardo da Vinci Museum is set up.
7. San Michele in Foro
This is the second of the great churches of Lucca. It is located right in the center of Lucca on the site of the ancient forum (hence the name). Apparently, due to the central location and impressive view, in some reviews about Lucca, I met the erroneous opinion that San Michele is the main temple of Lucca.
San Michele impressed me even more than the cathedral. The facade here is even more pretentious, and some art critics (for example, the same Muratov) believe that it is even too much.
At the very top of the church is a marble statue of the Archangel Michael. Allegedly, a real diamond, a gift from a wealthy parishioner, is inlaid in the ring worn on his finger. And when dusk falls over the city, then from a certain place in the square, if you look closely into the saint's hand, you can notice an unusual brightly glowing point.
The fantasy of the builders of San Michele worked perfectly, just look at these fabulous creatures on the bas-relief above the entrance.
But inside, after the chic façade, for some reason I did not remember the church.
Only a bright picture of Filippino Lippi remained in the memory and on the flash drive. Who does it look like? On Botticelli, of course.
This wooden crucifix was carved from Lebanese cedar by the gospel Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin and a secret disciple of Christ. together with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus removed the body of Jesus from the Cross. When Nicodemus decided to make an image of the crucified Christ, he faced a difficulty: he could not reproduce the features of Jesus' face. however, Lik appeared miraculously thanks to angelic help, as stated in some versions of the legend. The crucifix is \u200b\u200bthe main relic of Lucca.
I liked to look at the faces of the people accompanying the Holy Face, here each participant is carefully written out and with his own individual character. True, for this I had to sacrifice a coin to turn on the lighting in the dark chapel.
The most shocking interior detail is Saint Zita. The mummified saint looks very creepy, just like. I will quote the wiki
Zita was born in 1212 in the village of Monsagrati, near the city of Lucca, Tuscany region. At the age of 12, she began serving at the Fatinelli family home. For a long time, employers overloaded the girl with work, often beat her. However, the continuous bad attitude towards Zita did not deprive her of her inner peace and tranquility. Zita endured the bullying humbly, which, in the end, softened the attitude of the owners and colleagues towards her [colleagues, Giuseppe! who wrote this article?] for work. Zita's constant piety and patience led the Fatinelli family to Christian conversion. Zita considered her work to be a calling from God and an element of personal repentance.
After her death, members of this family began to venerate Zita as a saint. In 1580 her body was exhumed and it turned out that the relics of Saint Zita are incorruptible. They were transferred to the Basilica of St. Fredian in Lucca, where they are kept today.
All three famous churches of Lucca impressed me, the best part is that they are located within a five-minute walk from each other, so even with a shortage of time, it is quite possible to see them in one sitting.
40. Amphitheater Square
In ancient times, Lucca was a wealthy city and could afford an arena for gladiatorial battles for ten thousand spectators. Over time, the Lucca Amphitheater was destroyed and built up with buildings. Now his arena rests at a depth of three meters under the square. But in the 19th century, the authorities decided to build a square on this place, repeating in its shape the Roman arena. This is how the picturesque and unusual oval shape of the Piazza dell "Anfiteatro" appeared.
As always, I am beautiful, but since I accompanied my friend home in the morning, I had to capture myself in a mirrored window.
Lucca is a moderately tourist city, and I found the largest concentration of my fellows, just in the Amphitheater square. There is also the largest concentration of black brothers, traders of all sorts of nonsense.
On the outside of the Amphitheater square, in some places the remains of the upper tiers of the antique arena have been preserved.
Lucca has become just a balm for my soul, weary of the trip. No, really, as, apart from many interesting sights, there is a very pleasant atmosphere, a comfortable and prosperous city.
31. Guinigi Tower
In the Middle Ages, a whole "forest" of tall residential towers rose over Lucca. They were built to decorate the city and demonstrate the wealth of the owner of the household. Now a similar landscape with towers can be seen, but in Lucca, in fact, only one tower survived. The tower was built by the Guinigi family, who actually ruled Lucca at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. She left behind a rich residence with a 45-meter tower. It all ended with the last descendant of the Guinigi family transferring the tower to the ownership of the city.
The Guinigi were inventive builders: they decorated their tower with a hat of living green trees. On the upper platform of the tower, boxes with earth are embedded, in which seven stone oaks grow. And from the top of the tower - just under the canopy of these very oak trees - an excellent view of the entire city opens up.
I decided that I must definitely climb the Guinigi Tower, since the entrance there is quite inexpensive, three or four euros. While he was getting up, he looked into the windows of the houses of the Luccians (or what would be the right thing for a citizen of Lucca?).
Clock Tower and Bell Tower of San Frediano.
Amphitheater Square.
The clock tower is a little closer.
Those very famous oaks on the roof of the tower. This is the first time I see this!
Duomo Lucca.
Courtyards, it's amazing how much greenery there is.
By and large, I have already walked around the main attractions of Lucca, but decided to take a little more walk around the city I liked.
The first column in Italy dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. in honor of the adoption of the corresponding dogma in the 19th century. But in Lucca it appeared as much as 200 years earlier, when the Immaculate Conception had not yet become an official dogma.
Another fountain with the purest drinking water. Then I just ran out of drinking, I stood in line for the seniors and also filled a bottle of local mineral water. The water tastes very good!
Gothic San Francesco of the 15th century.
It is not only a church, but also a monastery. I entered the open gate and walked a little around the monastery courtyards.
Rear facade of the church of the Franciscan monastery.
Behind the monastery is a vast square. There were no more tourists here, but local residents, it seems, do not get to this area.
I again climbed the city wall, only this time in the opposite part from the station in the north of the city. Let me remind you that Lucca is one of the four cities in Italy where the wall surrounding the city has completely survived. However, it doesn't look like a wall, but rather a boulevard.
A traditional cat, without which a normal report cannot be made.
And once again I will emphasize that Lucca is charming and lovely even off the tourist routes.
I have not shown half of the churches in Lucca. It is simply unrealistic to get around them all in half a day. At every turn, there are masterpieces like this 12th century Chiesa di Santa Maria Forisportam. The church is interesting because a sundial is installed inside, made on the principle of a camera obscura. A small hole is punched in the wall, and at noon a ray of sun points to a specific spot on the floor of the church.
Memorial plaque in honor of the blessed Gemma Galgani.
In 1899, when she was 20, Gemma developed stigmata. She stated that she began to receive private revelations from the Virgin Mary, the guardian angel and other saints. At the request of her spiritual father, Gemma prayed for the end of these visions and the stigmata disappeared.
Living in poverty, Gemma became widely known for her holy life in the city of Lucca, but she did not find support for her spiritual life, meeting with neglect and negative attitude towards her visions among her family and the church hierarchy. At the beginning of 1903, Gemma fell ill with tuberculosis. During her short but fatal illness, she received various extraordinary mystical phenomena. At the beginning of Holy Week, her health deteriorated sharply and she died during Good Friday, April 11, 1903.
After Gemma's death, her spiritual father, who kept all her mystical experiences secret, wrote a detailed biography, publishing Gemma's personal diary and letters. After the publication of Gemma's writings, the church authorities recognized the authenticity of her mystical life.
My walk in Lucca was not very long and took about three hours. The city is very compact, so this time was enough for me to get around the main attractions. All in all, Lucca is a great option for a half-day trip from Florence.
