Suggestiva Toscana (charming Tuscany) Lucca

Lucca is a city in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plain near (but not on) the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca. Among other reasons, it is famous for its intact Renaissance-era city walls

History

Ancient and medieval city Lucca was founded by the Etruscans (there are traces of a pre-existing Ligurian settlement) and became a Roman colony in 180 BC. The rectangular grid of its historical centre preserves the Roman street plan, and the Piazza San Michele occupies the site of the ancient forum. Traces of the amphitheatre can still be seen in the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro. Lucca was the site of a conference in 56 BC which reaffirmed the superiority of the Roman First Triumvirate.

Piazza Anfiteatro and Basilica di San Frediano.Frediano, an Irish monk, was bishop of Lucca in the early 5th century.[1] At one point, Lucca was plundered by Odoacer, the first Germanic King of Italy. Lucca was an important city and fortress even in the 6th century, when Narses besieged it for several months in 553. Under the Lombards, it was the seat of a duke who minted his own coins. The Holy Face of Lucca (or Volto Santo), a major relic supposedly carved by Nicodemus, arrived in 742. It became prosperous through the silk trade that began in the 11th century, and came to rival the silks of Byzantium. During the 10-11th centuries Lucca was the capital of the feudal margravate of Tuscany, more or less independent but owing nominal allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor.

After the death of Matilda of Tuscany, the city began to constitute itself an independent commune, with a charter in 1160. For almost 500 years, Lucca remained an independent republic. There were many minor provinces in the region between southern Liguria and northern Tuscany dominated by the Malaspina; Tuscany in this time was a part of feudal Europe. Dantes Divine Comedy includes many references to the great feudal families who had huge jurisdictions with administrative and judicial rights. Dante spent some of his exile in Lucca.

In 1273 and again in 1277 Lucca was ruled by a Guelph capitano del popolo (captain of the people) named Luchetto Gattilusio. In 1314, internal discord allowed Uguccione della Faggiuola of Pisa to make himself lord of Lucca. The Lucchesi expelled him two years later, and handed over the city to another condottiere Castruccio Castracani, under whose rule it became a leading state in central Italy. Lucca rivalled Florence until Castracani's death in 1328. On 22 and 23 September 1325, in the battle of Altopascio, Castracani defeated Florence's Guelphs. For this he was nominated by Louis IV the Bavarian to become duke of Lucca. Castracani's tomb is in the church of San Francesco. His biography is Machiavelli's third famous book on political rule. In 1408, Lucca hosted the convocation intended to end the schism in the papacy. Occupied by the troops of Louis of Bavaria, the city was sold to a rich Genoese, Gherardino Spinola, then seized by John, king of Bohemia. Pawned to the Rossi of Parma, by them it was ceded to Martino della Scala of Verona, sold to the Florentines, surrendered to the Pisans, and then nominally liberated by the emperor Charles IV and governed by his vicar. Lucca managed, at first as a democracy, and after 1628 as an oligarchy, to maintain its independence alongside of Venice and Genoa, and painted the word Libertas on its banner until the French Revolution in 1789.

I own the pictures not the music

Music::
Sadame artist::Naoki Sato

All pics are by my daughter Gaia. A warm thankful to her.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Italy
• Tuscany
• Lucca

[brikkostello]

ci sono stato anni fa.....la toscana è bellissima......come l'umbria vicina........quindi grazie per avermi fatto.."riviaggiare" con queste tue bellissime foto:)))*****(una chicca la 500 rossa) :))

[forever57]

Grazie a te Francesco

vero, la Toscana è splendida. Io sono originaria di quella terra straordinaria,anche se di fatto non ci ho mai vissuto.

Non ho saputo resistere dall'immortalare quella vecchia 500 rossa. miticaaaaaaa!!

Gio

[christopher9usa]

I have to agree with "WithNAngelWings"

[forever57]

Thanks Chris

I always appreciate your comments, you know.

Glad to know you like Italian artistic and ancient beauty.

Italy is very rich in that "stuff". Italy is a wonderful country, italians just a "bit" less,lol.

xoxoxo

[jackfkintwist]

They are all wonderful photos I especially like the firey sky ones :-)

[forever57]

Thanks Bob

so nice to have your commets,again.

I agree with you those pics are really

charming.

love

Gio

[dirazzainestinzione]

Per Lucca dovresti citare anche Comics & Games, fiera del fumetto (ed altro...) più importante d'Europa. che si tiene per 4 giorni. A fine ottobre. Io ci sarò venrdì 29.

Se sopravvivo....ehehe!

^_^

[letufi]

beautiful *****/5

thanks! dear Gio-

abrazo

leticia

[forever57]

Thanks Pauline

I know you appreciate artistic beauty.

Italy is very rich in ancient culture.

Every city,village,small community, offer you some "evidence" of a glourious past.

love

Gio

[forever57]

Thanks a lot Tammy, I know you appreciate Italian artistic beauty.

Tuscany is very rich in culture.

Big hug

Gio

[forever57]

Muchas grazias dear Antonio

nice to have your comments.

Un fuerte abrazo

Gio

[forever57]

hai ragione Teo,la Toscana è una delle piu' belle regioni d'Italia. Ad ogni angolo "respiri" una cultura e una bellezza artistica vecchia di secoli, e per questo,immortale.

Grazie a te per l'apprezzamento.

Gio