Lucca for A Day

As 2015 was coming to an end, I spent it with Mr. B in a city that has come to feel like a second home, Florence. We rang in the New Year with friends, fireworks and a lot of champagne! And now that we know Florence quite well and have toured many of the city’s museums and streets, we decided to spend New Year’s Day visiting the lovely old city of Lucca.

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An ancient, fortified city, Lucca is full of history and sites to discover. It became a Roman colony in 180 B.C. and is also the birthplace of notable composers including Giacomo Puccini.

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Although many of the city’s shops and restaurants were closed due to the holiday, its streets and squares remained lively and festive, and by early evening were packed!DSC_4886-©BrandieRaasch-x1520DSC_4869-©BrandieRaasch-x1124

Lucca-Collage-BrandieRaasch-x1124We paused to enjoy a cioccolato calda, and discovered the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. This is one of several squares in Lucca and was the site of the ancient Roman amphitheater. Its oval shape is unique and surrounds you with busy cafés and charming shops. I was partial to this particular town square with its colorful façades and windows. DSC_4883-©BrandieRaasch-x1124DSC_4888-©BrandieRaasch-x1124DSC_4880-©BrandieRaasch-x1124DSC_4857-©BrandieRaasch-x1124-2DSC_4901-©BrandieRaasch-x1124DSC_4919-©BrandieRaasch-x1124The walls encircling Lucca remain intact to this day and are now used as a pedestrian walkway, lined with trees, green space and views over the city. It’s a lovely stroll, even on a chilly day, so I’d recommend making time at the end of your day to take in the view and watch the sun setting over the city.

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