The German Junket: Lucca

This blog should really be called "The Italian Job", but Germany is our ultimate destination so I guess it will have to stick. It is blisteringly hot and feet (especially JI's) have been pretty sore from all the walking, so we need to temper the time spent on our outings. I'm not sure what 'siesta' is in Italian but it's making a lot of sense and we are trying to get some rest in the afternoon.

Today (which is Saturday) takes us to Lucca. In case you aren't sure where it is, look about half-way between Firenze and the west coast of Italy. Lucca is an ancient town, founded in around the 6th century and is also walled. We found a parking space just outside the walls and walked inside, finding a bicycle rental place, so took advantage of it immediately.

I don't think we've ever seen so many churches -- all huge and impressive -- so close together. The above church is called San Frediano and was actually founded by an Irishman who was its first bishop. Notice the modern sculpture, made of wood. This is the only church (actually a basilica) that we spent time in. Below are some interior photos. The stone covering of the sarcophagus is rather interesting because it marks the grave of Saint Richard who, with his daughter, died in Lucca while on a pilgrimage in the year 722.

As I recall, a church is called a basilica if it contains the remains of (some part of) a saint. In the above picture, the entire desiccated body of Saint Zitae can be found. We've never heard of her but in some slow time when we have nothing else to do, we may google her and find out why she was a saint.

Rather more remarkable (and remarkably well preserved) was the font which is shown below with closeups of the side carvings. This font dates from the 12th century, the age of the normans. Notice one of the carvings showing the slaying of a dragon.

Nearby was a Roman amphitheatre, but it was completely covered over on both sides of the walls with shops. You can go inside and see the circular aspect but that's it. The next 3 pictures were taken from the inside of the amphitheatre.

Here are a few more pictures of Lucca. They seem to love to place modern sculptures outside of the ancient churches.

When returning to our car, we were 'rewarded' with a parking ticket. The officer was still there but unfortunately could not reverse the ticket since he had already entered it into the system. Live and learn.
Driving back from Lucca, here is an example of the autostrade. We passed a (approx) 10 km long traffic snarl, fortunately on the other side of the road.

An afternoon rest and we went for a brief bicycle ride onto the other side of the Arno from the hotel. So here is what our hotel looks like from the other side. The odd fisherman can be seen in the shallow river.