Wednesday, September 29th 2004
Day excursion to Lucca, by train | |
Breakfast at the hotel, and a day excursion by train to Lucca.
Lucca, a thriving, cosmopolitan, and beautifully preserved city, presents a fine medley of architecture dating from Roman times to art nouveau. The birthplace of Puccini, the revered composer of opera, site of many fine works of art and architecture, as well as the home of olio d'oliva lucchese, the city is largely bypassed by the tourist trade. The great pride of the Lucchesi is the city's massive and perfect Renaissance wall, the best preserved example in Europe - fortunately the threat that inspired it no longer exists! Shops, boutiques, restaurants, and a fine air of prosperity fill this lovely city. Many centuries separate the visitor today from the time when Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey met here and agreed to rule the city as a triumvirate, only one of the many regimes that have passed into the city's history.
Lunch on the go.
Dinner at a local restaurant, return to Pistoia.
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