Lucca On Your Own

A Medieval Italian Gem:

Explore Lucca, a small medieval town steeped in history and culture. Sheltered by the remains of the fortress walls, Lucca offers breathtaking scenery in the heart of Tuscany. Begin your tour with a scenic drive. Upon arrival, your escort will lead you to the town center. Here, you will explore on your own the pedestrianized Renaissance wall walkways, palaces and pretty piazzas. Majestically rising to dominate the skyline in the main piazza is the stunning Duomo. Admire the oval-shaped amphitheater, built on foundations of an ancient Roman site and surrounded by some of Lucca’s finest examples of ancient architecture from the 4th century. The magnificent octagonal Baptistery of St. John stands in both the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza San Giovanni. Wander the quaint streets, browse the shops, and admire the picturesque surroundings before you meet up with your Viking Representative to head back to your ship. 

Knowing that our excursion for today did not depart until the afternoon, Tim and slept late and had a leisurely morning. In fact, we were so late that we even missed breakfast at the World Café, but we went to Mamsen’s for waffles instead.

We boarded our motorcoach for Lucca, and as we passed the outskirts of Pisa, we could see the Duomo and the top of the Leaning Tower in the distance. I’ve never been to Pisa, and could have gone today, but decided on Lucca instead.

A Zoomed-In Glimpse of Pisa

Welcome to Lucca

Our excursion in Lucca was an “on your own tour,” which was perfect for us today. We began our tour at Piazza San Michele and its amazing church. Said to be one of the most exuberant Pisan-Romanesque facades in Tuscany, it features three tiers of twisted and carved columns. Each one is different.

San Michele in Foro

San Michele in Foro would not be the only church we saw, although it was my favorite. We learned that Lucca has many, many churches, including San Martino, which is Lucca’s Duomo. Its varied columns were reminiscent of San Michele’s.

San Martino

A Few of Lucca's Many Churches

Lucca is dotted with piazzas, and the largest is Piazza Napoleon, where an ice-skating rink had been installed. We continued wandering the narrow streets of Lucca, including Via Fillungo, the main shopping street. We then passed into Piazza del Anfiteatro, built on the site of an ancient Roman amphitheater. Only the elliptical shape remains today, however.

Piazza Napoleon

Via Fillungo

Piazza del Anfiteatro

Some Christmas decorations were already in place in Lucca, and I was intrigued that so many of the large displays were contemporary in design. Spotting the unique installations was fun for me.

I Loved the Christmas Displays

Tim and I stopped for an espresso to rest our feet and then meandered back to Piazza San Michele. By the time we left Lucca, it was already dark.

Festive Lucca After Dark

Dinner in the World Café after returning to the ship was excellent, with an array of fresh seafood. I never get tired of shrimp and crab. Tim is enjoying the gelato, probably the most popular venue in the café. While Tim had gelato, I spied a skewer of fruit, which the server graciously dipped in the chocolate fountain. Yum!

Yum!

Our Journey So Far