Lucca

We traded our countryside view for a cityscape.

Our apartment was in the heart of Lucca right off the main street. But thankfully they put trees on some of their towers so we could still enjoy a little greenery.

 

Lucca is a walled city where they've turned the top of the wall into a park, complete with sycamore trees. Walking, jogging, biking the wall is a common pastime. 

It's a great way to enjoy the views of the mountains in the distance, for people and dogs alike.

There are lots of touristy bike rental shops where you can rent fun multi-person bikes with canopies. We are in our two person bike (above) passing another group of four (below).

It's a 4.2 kilometer loop that takes about 40 minutes to do in a slow one speeder including stops and diversions. A perfect lunch break activity.

Tristan photographing Chiesa di San Michele in Foro.

Chiesa di San Salvatore in Mustolio

One evening we climbed the tower with trees on it (Torre Guinigi) to watch the sunset.

There were lots of cute shops in Lucca.

Having fun buying too many things.

Piazza San Michele

One afternoon we hiked along the Nottolini Aqueduct. It was constructed between 1823 and 1851 to provide the city with a reliable supply of fresh water from the nearby Pisan Mountains.

The aqueduct stretches for about 3 kilometers and features over 400 arches. While no longer in use for its original purpose, you can still fill up water bottles at many points along it, which we saw many people doing.

Our hike culminated at a farm-to-table restaurant with vineyard views for lunch.

Another day we explored Villa Reale di Marlia.

It had many stunning secret gardens with fun water features. It might be the best villa we've visited.

San Frediano Basilica

A horse stopping for a treat at a restaurant. We suspect this was a daily ritual.

Tristan wearing one of his fancy new shirts to lunch.

A French lady with her dogs.

Our beautiful apartment.

With gorgeous light, perfect for photographing still lives.

Lucca was our longest stay of almost two weeks and certainly our fanciest place as well. It was really nice to settle in and make the place feel like home. We enjoyed the restaurants, the shopping, walking along the wall, and listening to and watching people down on the street from our windows high above. The highlights were photographing (and then eating) all sorts of cheeses and fruits at the local markets, cooking delicious dinners, and enjoying live music streaming into our windows. 

Our last stop in Italy will be Milan for two nights before we head up through the Swiss Alps. Then Paris for a few nights, and finally Amsterdam for a few nights before flying home.