A re-post from last summer -
The old town of Lucca, still circled by the medieval defensive walls, is like a Disney Medieval Italy. Like San Gimignano but with many fewer tourists (they all go to Pisa instead, to see that dumb church tower, or to Siena or Firenze for the 10th time). Plenty of towers - if not as many as San G. but who cares? A tower is a tower.
The modern city surrounds the old town which is now preserved in amber (heavily regulated re historical preservation - and rightly so, I think).
This lovely Italian gal ducked, as if I had not wanted her in my photo. She was wrong. Her gladiator sandals are perfect for the location: this is an entry to the Roman arena in Lucca. Its walls are integrated with the walls of medieval houses built into and against the Roman ruins. (Lucca is full of charming northern Italian women. All of them know how to dress, and many of them are blondes.)
More doors and entries below -
This also built into the Roman arena walls:
Entry to a country restaurant high in the hills outside Lucca, where we had a remarkable lunch:
On the right is the front of one of the many medieval towers in town. Every wealthy family wanted one.
The vacation house we bought outside Lucca. Not really.
A section of the well-preserved walls of Lucca:
A nice garden shed:
I had best quit before boredom sets in. All our readers care about is food.
