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LUCCA
Lucca is situated at a few minutes distance from the sea. It is less than an hour by car from Florence. It borders on the province of Pisa, and is surrounded by the Apennine Mountains and the spurs of the Apuan Alps. This city offers a lot for the visitors on foot. The narrow streets of this historic centre have got more than one hundred churches and almost he same number of palaces.
The places worth seeing in this city are listed below:
Garfagnana - Garfagnana is an historical region of Italy. It is a part of the province of Lucca. It offers some great scenery and distinctive local cuisine. Mountain farming is still practiced here and the locals are all passionate about their food. From the month of June to October the region comes alive with a whole host of events and festivals.
Piazza Napoleone - Also known as "Piazza Grande", this square is situated on the south of the city. It has been subjected to a restoration hat has given it back its original, early 19th century appearance. The west side of the square is entirely occupied by the facade of the Palazzo Pubblico, or Palazzo Ducale. On exiting from the opposite side and turning right, we come out in the square containing the church of S. Romano, which was built in the 13th century over a subsequently-restructured oratory that already existed in 792. The single-nave interior with transept became one of the most important examples of baroque in Lucca, thanks to the transformations brought about by the Dominican father, Giovanni Buonvisi, and the Lucchese architect, Vincenzo Buonamici.
Teatro del Giglio - This is a 17th century neo-classical building. It was the result of the work of the Lucchese architect Giovanni Lazzarini. This is a masterpiece of Romanesque art, with its 13th century facade that abounds in multiform columns and a portico decorated with very fine bas-reliefs.
Piazza Antelminelli - This square has got a fountain built by the architect Nottolini in 1832-35. This fountain is a real eye candy. The Museum of the Cathedral, with its precious historical and artistic patrimony, is also located in the square. Towards the middle of the square lies the Romanesque Church of Saint Michele. A large statue of St. Michael adorns its pinnacle. Situated in the ancient forum of the Roman city, the church rises over a previous construction that dates back to the 8th century.
Saint Frediano Square - This is another lovely square, where lies the Basilica dedicated to the saint who was Bishop of Lucca. The white marble facade is dominated by a large Byzantine-style mosaic of Christ's Ascension, attributed to the Berlinghieri School that flourished in Lucca during the 13th century.
Villa Bottini - This is the monumental Villa Buonvisi al Giardino or better known as Villa Bottini. Built in 1566 in the centre of a large park, the two-storey villa has simple lines, large windows on the ground floor, and an open gallery on the back. The gallery and the halls preserve frescoes by Ventura Salimbeni, painted after 1593.
Torre Alberata - This is a symbolic tower. When converted, it means "tower with tree". It owes its name to the centuries-old ilex trees that adorn its summit. Built entirely of dark-red bricks, it is 41 meters high; from its top, a suggestive panorama over the city can be enjoyed.