City tour of Lucca and Pisa
TOUR N° 5 - (7/8 hours)
PISA AND LUCCA
Lucca, once a famous center for silk and for the shrewdness of its bankers, the walled City of Lucca was once a Roman town. A walk along the medieval Via Fillungo main axis of the historic core, the Tower of the Clock, amidst ancient palaces, to reach the Roman Amphitheatre. The Duomo “San Martin”, with the story of the Holy Face and the Church of “ San Michele”, where the ancient Roman forum used to be. A visit to “Puccini’s House”. From the 11th to the 13th centuries.
The walled city of Lucca, once a Roman town, was known as a famous center for silk aswell as for the acumen of its bankers. Lucca is definitely a gem of a city, very compact and in fact, it has barred all traffic from entering its hallowed fortress.
Therefore, the Lucchese ride bikes, which means that we will have the perfect walking tour. Our trek in this nice and lovely city takes us along the Medieval Via Fillungo, which is the main axis of the historic core; the Tower of the Clock; and amidst the ancient palace where we will reach the Roman Amphitheater.
Other highlights include: the Duomo San Martin and the “Volto Santo,” the “Holy Face,” a venerated wooden crucifix inside a free-standing Carrara marble chapel and the Church of San Michele, which at one time was home to an ancient Roman forum.
Since Lucca is the birthplace of the renowned Giacomo Puccini, our tour would not be complete without a visit to “Casa Natale Di Puccini,” Puccini’s house, which is an excellent example of a 15th century townhouse.
Pisa’s maritime power ensured the dominance over the Western Mediterranean area. Port of departure of the crusaders, see Piazza dei Cavalieri, it acquired many privileges in trading with the middle east from 1100. The City’s wealth is reflected in the unique Cathedral square, with the celebrated Leaning Tower, the majesty of the Cemetery and the austerity of the Baptistery.
If we were taking this tour back in the mid 1300’s we would have been able to visit the famous Galileo, who was teaching Physics at Pisa’s university, which by the way is the oldest, dating back to 1343. Today, Pisa still maintains a very strong academic tradition because of this founding father of academics.
Pisa is very accessible, making it easy for us to walk its narrow streets and discover quaint markets, which truly define the city’s one-of-a-kind ambiance and character
