2023 Monday Oct. 9

Lucca

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Lucca is a walled city. Atop the thick flat-topped walls are paths that are favorites for the people to stroll, bike, or rent surreys to tour the four-kilometer path around the city center walls.

The outside of the Duomo (Cathedral) with its Campanile.

The dome over the altarpiece in the Duomo.

A very special relic, Volto Santo (Sacred Countenance), is being renovated in a room in the Duomo. It is a carved wooden crucifix brought to Lucca in 782 and was said to have been carved by Nicodemus in a likeness of Christ.

A covering showing how Volto Santo is usually displayed. The crown, belt, and accessories are displayed in the Duomo Museum.

Torre Guinigi was named for a family determined to make their Lucca tower unique. It has a wide top with trees in a garden on top, so it has survived as a popular climbing tower.

The Clock Tower; sadly, renovations had it closed so Richard could not climb it.

The church of San Michele, in the Pisa style.

Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca. He was a bit of a rogue as we learned in the Puccini Museum.

The 12th century Basilica of San Frediano with its campanile. The church is named for a 6th century Irish saint who became bishop of Lucca.

Inside the Basilica of San Frediano, Volto Santo is included in the religious art.

A mosaic on the front of the Basilica of San Frediano.

Comments:

Julia Holman: Love the wall to the city! Did it used to be filled with more water? 2023/10/13 at 3:02 pm

Reply: I don’t find anything about a moat around the walls. There is a small canal that ran under the walls and within the city. I suppose it was part of the city’s necessary water supply for Lucca when surrounding city-states were fighting for it (mostly Pisa and Florence). 2023/10/14 at 5:59 am