Culture after industry -- Lucca -- Saturday, 11 Aprile

Saturday wasn't only about about Piaggio, as we still had Lucca to reach and visit for the evening. We had a room outside the walled (intact from the Renaissance) city on the river Serchio. Strange to think that after all the riding from la Spezia to Pisa to Piaggio (I mean Pontedera) to Lucca...that we were still only a half hour by car from the Tuscan coast.

Once inside the city proper, we enjoyed our typical walkabout and then sat at a bar/cafe to sip wine and taste complimentary aperitifs (since it was the afternoon time when the cucina is chiuso) -- this one reminding us that Italy is not in the Renaissance still, what with a the staff and their friends (and little ones) enjoying 70s disco while watching the people pass in the piazza. We joined in the late afternoon reverie, and I even did a little disco with the young waiter during one song that made me smile rather than groan with bad memories of junior high. 

At the suggestion of my sister-in-law Jane, we completed our evening with some opera. Lucca is the birthplace of composer Giacomo Puccini, and there is a concert of his (and other) pieces every night of the year at one location or another. Tonight's performance was "a night at the opera" with an alto and tenor taking turns, accompanied by a captivating pianist, at the 12th century San Giovani Bascilica. It was a treat overall, and added some even more variety to our day's experiences.

Cathedral of San Martino

The next morning, we did enjoy a ride atop the wall for a time as we made our way to the river and our route out of town. Lots of local walkers and runners taking advantage of the citiy's great situation too! So many others that we didn't want to take any photos, feeling too touristy that early in the morning. But it was indeed pretty cool.