First days in Lucca
Lucca is quite interesting and unlike other Tuscan or Umbrian towns we’ve stayed in in two obvious ways: it is completely surrounded by broad walls (much more on these below) and it’s quite flat. Flat can be boring, but flat is good for me this year, as I recover from knee surgery, and good for Mrs. Woodleigh, too — it’s warm, say no more.
The walls are not what I expected. I’m used to castle-like walls — narrow and made of stone or brick. These are more like raised ground, especially when viewed from within. To reach the walls you walk up an incline. Once on top, it’s like walking through Central park.
You can walk on the central road, which is paved, or along the sides, which are grass or gravel. There are large trees shading most of the road and benches are plentiful. From without, the walls look like like walls, made of brick. To leave the inner town you pass through one of several arched gates that pass through the walls. Large outcroppings dot the walls, each one featuring a park of some kind. There is at least one restaurant sitting on one of those grassy outcroppings.
Because it is flat here, the walls don’t change elevation much, and many people go for leisurely bicycle rides atop the walls. Bicycles are common in town, too. Many of the locals — young, old, and in between — depend on them for basic transportation. Tourists often rent bicycles from one of several rental businesses.
The riding is easy, if a little bumpy where the streets are covered in paving stones.
I’ve been wondering town, just trying to get the lay of the land, scouting out restaurants, etc. More on what’s in the walls later.
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