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Info Lucca and Province
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Info Lucca and Province
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The Town of Lucca
A journey back in time !
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The Province of Lucca
Marble stone, sandy beaches and more ...
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Information: Lucca and Province |
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Menu
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To obtain a list of holiday accommodation available in this region of Tuscany please refer to the link below:
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For more information on events, folklore and festivities throughout Tuscany please refer to the link below:
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The Town of Lucca |
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Medieval town - A Renaissance gem !
Birthplace of the musicians Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) and Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
Lucca, seat of an archbishop and the provincial capital, remains a quiet and pleasant old town conserving its magnificent 16-17C ramparts intact; they enclose its partly Roman street plan . It is rich in Romanesque architecture, and many medieval mansions line its narrow streets. With its magnificent cathedral "San Martino", fine churches and superb museums, Lucca is one of the most fascinating cities throughout Tuscany. Wander the streets and embark on a journey back through time !
The environs of Lucca are noted for their fine villas built between the 16C and 19C. N.E. of the city is the late-17C Villa Reale, once the home of Elisa Baciocchi, the sister of Napoleon, and where Niccolo Paganini stayed, is open to the public. In the splendid 17C Orsetti gardens a music festival is held in August. At Segomigno is the 17C Villa Mansi, with an 'English' garden, and also open to the public and a visit to the home of Puccini at lake Massaciúccoli guarantee wonderful day trips and excursions through the beautiful scenery of the Tuscan countryside.
One should begin in Lucca by taking an interesting walk (c. 4km) or carriage round the ramparts, among the oldest of their kind (1561-1645). Their tree planted bastions, many of which are adorned with monuments, command good views of the surrounding Tuscan countryside.
Lucca is best conquered on foot in order to explore the narrow lanes and not miss any of its charm tucked away in various corners of the town! The "Piazza Napoleone", with its "Palazzo della Provincia", and the "Piazza del Giglio" together may be regarded as the centre of the city and along with the attractive and romantic "Piazza San Martino" where, beyond, stands the cathedral San Martino, invite you to just simply wander at leisure and soak up the atmosphere.
The cathedral "San Martino", contains wonderful paintings and frescoes and tombs from the early renaissance. You will be amazed at the incredibly impressive facade by Giudetto da Como (1204). All the sculpture on the facade is of excellent workmanship. A magnificent façade can also be seen "San Michele in Foro", typical of the Pisan Romanesque style as developed in Lucca. Opposite, on the west side, is the narrow street where Giacomo Puccini was born. The house is open to the public and has some mementoes of the musician, including his piano.
The "Villa Guinigi" has been beautifully restored to house the "Museo Nazionale Guinigi" which contains a fine collection of sculptures and paintings from Lucca and its province. One of our favourite sights is the "Torre del Guinigi" in Via Guinigi, a narrow lane dominated by the "Case dei Guinigi", best preserved medieval houses and mansions built in the 14C and remodelled in the 16C, the last has a picturesque tower on which trees grow.
On 13th of September a traditional festival takes place, "Luminara di Santa Croce", a procession with flamed torches where wooden statues are paraded through the streets of Lucca. Yet another opportunity to experience the flair of the past.
And one final note: Antico Caffé di Simo, Via Fillungo 58 (closed Mondays) is where Giacomo Puccini regularly sat to take his Cappuccino! !
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Barga
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Barga is a characteristic little hill-town with fine views across the landscape. The fine Romanesque Duomo, built on the highest point of the town, contains a sculptured pulpit of the late 12C, an early 12C St Christopher in polychromed wood, and a rich treasury. It also displays a fine romantic façade with two pillars either side of the portal guarded by elegant lions. The palazzo del Podesta houses a small museum illustrating the prehistory of the Garfagnana. A well known opera festival is held here in July and August.
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Massa & Carrara |
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The "twin towns" of Massa and Carrara.
Mecca for sculptors
The famous marble quarries in the Apuan Alps have been worked for over 2000 years and are well worth a visit. They produce 500,000 tons of marble a year, and over 300 quarries are still in use today. The centres of the marble trade are focused in the towns of Massa and Carrara.
The town of Carrara
World famous for its white marble
The most famous town in the world for marble ! Even in Roman times, slaves were used to work in the quarries and extract the marble. Today there are still over 300 quarries around Carrara in use as high up as 1000 metres between the Apuan Alps. They are best reached by bus from Carrara to Colonnata or to Frantiscitti. It is interesting to follow up this visit by viewing the marble-sawing mills and sculpture workshops in the town. There is also a good example of a Romanesque Duomo altered in the 13C, when the attractive Gothic story was added to its two toned marble façade. In the square to the right of the cathedral is a monument to the Admiral Andrea Doria in the form of the sea goddess Alberica and a house believed to have sheltered Michelangelo on his visits to buy marble. In "Cave di Colonnata, approximately 8,5 km from Carrara at 523 m high, are the largest and most ancient quarries where Michelangelo personally chose and collected his marble pieces for his works of art !
The town of Massa
Small provincial capital with a delightful old quarter
The medieval town of Massa, with marble quarries, is pleasantly situated, just inland below the Apuan foothills. The centre of the town is just 6 km from the seaside resort of "Marina di Massa", a large bathing resort with innumerable pensions. Massa was from 1442 to 1790 the capital of the Malaspina duchy of Massa-Carrara, and in the Piazza Aranci is the large Palazzo Cybo Malaspina, a 17C building with a charming courtyard. High above it is the 14-16C "La Rocca" castle where earlier Malaspina dukes entertained many distinguished guests. From here one has a fantastic panoramic view overlooking the town and out towards the sea. 5km north of Massa is the thermal spa town "San Carlo Terme". The "Fonte Aurelia" mineral water originates from here and is particularly recommended for stomach and kidney complaints (season from May to September). Salute !
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Garfagnana
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La Garfagnana, the valley of the Serchio (river Serchio), well wooded (famous for its chestnuts) and richly cultivated, lying between the Apennines in the east and the Apuan Alps in the west. Mainly farmers and shepherds lived here up until the last few decades. There are many marble quarries also in the area. 12 km north of Lucca the road winds up through beautiful scenery to Brancoli with its 12C Romanesque church "Pieve di Brancoli". The church has an ambone and a font, both 12C and a 14C painting of the Crucifixion.
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Luni
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The Roman colony of Luni was founded in 177 B.C. The city was still thriving in the Middle Ages and was important enough to lend its name to the whole district (Lunigiana). The walled city has a typical Roman plan; remains of the forum, a temple, and amphitheatre have come to light. The museum contains interesting finds from here and the surrounding territory including marble sculptures, bronzes, mosaics, etc.
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Pietrasanta
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North of Viareggio is the town of Pietrasanta, which lies on top of a hill. Particularly famous for its marble,
not just for industrial purposes, but also well known local stonemasons export their sculptures all over the world. Copies, for example of famous marble sculptures and portraits, can be made here in the one of the many workshops. Pietrasanta has a most attractive old piazza, surrounded by fine buildings. The cathedral San Martino (1330), with a campanile of 1380, contains a pulpit, wonderful choir stalls, a font and an outstanding statue of John the Baptist - all sculptured from the precious marble !
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Torre del Lago Puccini
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5 km south of Viareggio lies Torre del Lago Puccini.
It has adopted the name of Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), who made his bohemian home on the Lago Massaciúccoli, 1 km east, where he enjoyed shooting waterfowl. His villa on the lakeside is today a museum open to the public and preserves mementoes as well as his tomb which is located in the chapel. All his operas, including his major works "La Boehme" and "Tosca", were to a great extent written here, except his last "Turandot". An opera festival is held here in summer, the Puccini Festival, which is a real mid-summer dream !
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Villa Mansi
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Amidst the enchanting Tuscan countryside lies the picturesque Villa Manis, at Segromigno. This 18C Barock style mansion was built by the famous architect Filippo Juvarra. Although a lot of the interior is missing, it is still absolutely worth visiting! The wonderful architecture of this country house with its fabulous gardens.
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Villa Torrigiani
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At Camigliano, north east of Lucca (approx. 11 km) is the 17C Villa Torrigiani, one of the most splendid Villas in the region, with a rococo façade and fine park. It contains contemporary furnishings, 17C and 18C paintings, and a collection of porcelain.
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Versilia
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The plain between the Apuan Alps and the 40 km coastal strip between Carrara and mouth of the river Serchio, is known as La Versilia. It is a popular leisure area with fine bathing beaches and seaside resorts (see below).
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Viareggio
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Viareggio is the main town of Versilia and the most popular seaside resort on the west coast of Italy. The gently shelving beach of fine sand is backed by the magnificent pine woods and a distant view of the Apuan Alps. Beautiful pine woods also extend along the shore in both directions from the town. Viareggio first became fashionable as a bathing place in the early 19C. In summer it is often crowded with holiday- makers, many of them from Florence. The impressive outer harbour is busy with boat building, especially luxury boats and yachts, and a 16C tower guards the inner basins where there is a port. A splendid double promenade: "Pineta di Ponente," a pine tree lined roadway and a footpath, leads 2km along the shore and is up to 500 m wide.
Viareggio is also a town with a bustling and lively nightlife and plenty of fashionable discotheques
The Carneval in Viareggio, held in February, is one of the most famous in Italy. The parade of topical allegorical floats takes place on four consecutive Sundays.
Also of particular interest is the small but fine antiques market held on the Piazza Manzoni, the last weekend of every month. For a short break in between, the Gran Caffè Margherita (Viale Regina Margherita 30) offers the perfect setting. This famous Art Nouveau style house built in 1928 is exceedingly inviting in order to catch your breath back !! Buon divertimento !
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To obtain a list of holiday accommodation available in this region of Tuscany please refer to the link below:
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For more information on events, folklore and festivities throughout Tuscany please refer to the link below:
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Holiday Accommodation Booking Agency
featuring individually selected holiday accommodation in Tuscany
We act on behalf of local property owners as agent between
owner and customer in a reservation and contract arrangement
Copyright 2004-2010 © by Elisa Santoni Gabrielides
Sondermeierstr. 110 D-80939 München
+49 89 12392998 +49 160 7372215
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