Past Blast: Lucca

Not pigeons... SQUAB!

Probably a piazza up ahead! 

Near the Italian west coast in Tuscany, Lucca [loo-ka] still retains its medieval fortress walls surrounding the dense urban core of the city. You'll notice that streets seem darker, buried between taller buildings due to lack of space. After visiting the hilly towns of Tuscany, Lucca feels more like a Chicago landscape- it sits on a flat plain. So there isn't any up-and-down hiking to be had.


Since the streets are so narrow, the piazzas tend to attract more than their share of crowds. Lucca still retains the original Roman grid plan in the center near San Michele in Foro, literally 'Saint Michael in the Forum'. Plenty of tourists, saw players, and pigeoni to be found here. Be sure to visit the Piazza Anfiteatro, which still retains the shape of the original Roman amphitheater. And a note on that saw player video [below]: either all saw players look alike, or I also saw him in Florence and back home in Rome.

Peace & Quiet

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