5/26/2024 - Exploring Lucca
Romans established Lucca, a thick-walled Renaissance-era city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, around 180 BC. Our local guide, Maria, was fantastic and informative as we visited multiple tree-lined squares and ornate ancient churches, such as Duomo di San Martino (St. Martin's Cathedral), built in 1063.
Inside and outside the cathedral.
The Lucchese French Market in Piazza Napoleone Square is a "pop-up" market held once a year during a long weekend in mid-May. The smells of fresh-baked bread and pastries were everywhere, and it took every fiber of my being to resist them and focus on my upcoming visit to the best
pizzeria for lunch.
Lucca and Tuscany -the lands of Giacomo Puccini
Timing is everything, and we just happened to be in Lucca when there was a Puccini Concert with soprano Veronica Niccolini, Tenor Giovanni Cervelli, and pianist Diego Fiorini. We were extremely fortunate to be seated in the first and second rows directly across from the pianist, who had the most extended exquisite fingers ever seen since I was so close to the sparkling reflection just above the keyboard.
The singers alternated for each aria from Gianni Schicchi (my favorite), Tosca, La Boheme, Turandot, and Manon Lescaut. The church acoustics were superb. The soprano was okay, but the tenor stole the show. We were so close we were drawn to the powerful sound from his small, oval-shaped mouth.
The concert concluded with a fantastic performance by the pianist as he combined arias into a stunning emotional medley.
More Lucca Highlights...
Palazzo Pfanner Gardens and Courtyard.
San Michele in Foro, Basilica in Lucca.
Surprise Visit to Pisa...
I started to take photos as soon as I stepped out of our van,
not realizing there were more Kodak moments inside the wall.
It was challenging to squeeze all these landmarks into one photo.
If you tried to straighten one or the other, the tower leaned less.
There is no argument now.
This landmark looks like an accident waiting to happen;
however, most people can scale the 251 winding spiral steps to the top
within an average of 30 minutes.
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