May 10-
There are certain things it seems a traveller to Tuscany must see... today's itinerary included one of the world's most recognizable sites- the leaning tower of Pisa. But first we toured the nearby peaceful little town of Lucca -- on bikes!
Lucca was an important medieval town because of it's silk trade and banking industry which kept them prosperous and out of the "fight" literally. Lucca's massive and impressive city walls are still intact today and thanks to a ruler in the 17th century were demilitarized and turned into a park that is well used by tourists and locals alike. When we told the boys that we were going to ride bikes on top of the old city walls I think they had a much different image in mind- something much more dangerous & precarious than the broad path that allowed for bikers, joggers & strollers. But no matter because a day on bikes is always fun!
From the ramparts we could see the white marbled slopes of the Apuan Alps where Michelangelo and others quarried the stones to create their beautiful works of art.
Once in the city, our guide Gabriele had the boys don their Indiana Jones persona and search for "secret" carvings in the St. Michele in Foro done by artists who while working on the church's exterior facade used the interior columns for practice.
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| One of Lucca's city gates- Porta Santa Maria |
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| and also in town (more hazardous than atop the walls!) |
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| Biking on the wall.... |
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