Lucca - Part II

Much like Siena and Assisi, Lucca is a fine town for just wandering about. It's difficult to get very lost surrounded by a forty foot high perimeter wall. Or one can pick up a map at information offices near Porta Santa Maria or Piazzale G. Verdi.
As with those other towns, much of Lucca's history, art and architecture are to be found in her churches. Here's a glimpse of a few of the more well-known. This is the facade of the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Lucca's Duomo. Although most of the facade is newer, the church was begun in 1063.

Below is the facade of San Michele in Foro, a basilica so named because it was built on the site of Lucca's Roman Forum. The church's origins date back to at least the Eighth Century, although much of it is newer. Inside is a beautiful painting of four saints by Filippino Lippi.

Here's a closer look at the top part, showing Saint Michael the Archangel.

Next is the interior of the Basilica of San Frediano, which had its beginnings as a Sixth Century church named after Fridianus, who was the son of a king of Ireland and a bishop of Lucca. (I've been staying in the San Frediano neighborhood of Florence, a good Irish-Italian combination.)

The church was built up in the Twelfth Century, and the facade developed over the following two centuries.

Note the top part. This is a Thirteenth Century mosaic, The Ascension of Christ the Savior.

Back down to earth, I mentioned in the previous post how much of Lucca gets around on bicycles. This fine model is bound to provide many happy rides.

Lucca has several pleasant piazzas, not far separated, so one is seldom long in the narrow streets. This is Piazza Napoleone.

Opera aficionados may be aware that Lucca was the birthplace of Giocamo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (Puccini, for short, composer of Madame Butterfly, Tosca, La boheme). He is considered the second greatest Italian opera composer after Verdi, and thus there's a statue of him near the house of his birth.

Apparently he was a chain smoker, as is captured in this likeness, which brought his career and life to an end.
In passing by a local bank, noticed an apparently very old and very secure door. Not sure how the money gets in or out. Wonder if they issue 300 year fixed-rate mortgages?

Finally, Lucca seems to have plenty of good places to stop for meals, or a slice of pizza. This was my lunch stop.

Ciao.