L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 www.italoamericano.com 10 CHIARA ASSI Red roofs , a lovely oval shaped central square and the beautiful Tuscan countryside all around it: Lucca s its on the banks of river S erchio and charms vis itors w ith its Renaissance-era city walls -still intact to these days- its under- stated elegance and its timeless beauty. Roughly oval, flat and hardly a mile across, Lucca has no wide roads to cross, but a multitude of old churches, little piazzas, tow- ers and family businesses.This is a town where you can get won- derfully lost, either by foot or by bicycle: pretty s oon you're bound to be back to somewhere you recognize. The alleys and columned yards offer countless photo opportunities, while small cafes tempt everyone to slow down, order a coffee at an out- side table and just enjoy the views. Lucca has a lot to offer to those who enjoy history and architecture. Founded by the Etruscans, it became a Roman colony in 180 BC: the rectangu- lar grid of its historical centre preserves the Roman street plan, and the Piaz z a San Michele occupies the site of the ancient forum, w hile traces of the amphitheater can still be seen in the Piaz z a dell'Anfiteatr o. Unusual and worth noting is the fact that the walls around the old town remained intact as the city expanded and modernized throughout the centuries: as the walls lost their military impor- tance, they became a pedestrian promenade which encircles the old town, with each of the four principal sides lined with a dif- ferent tree species. For an amazing view, climb the Torre dell'Orologio (the Clock Tow er) and look all around you: from this stand- point, not only you can see the maze of tiny s treets and rooftops, but also the gorgeous rolling Tus can hills . A fter climbing down from the tower w alk to beautiful Piaz z a Anfiteatro, the oval shaped piaz- za that stands on the site of the town's Roman amphitheater, and reward yourself with a deli- cious gelato from G elater ia Anfiteatro, considered one of the best in town. The church of San Frediano, founded by an Irish saint, is right around the corner from there and definitely a must- s ee: a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture, it fea- tures a vast 12th-century bap- tismal font with carved figures that give it a severe, almost Viking look. Also worth a visit are the nearby Duomo of San Mar tino, alongs ide its ow n museum, where fine works by Jacopo della Quercia can be admired; and the church of San Michele in For o . The Pinacoteca Naz ionale, the Lucca: Renaissance charm and a lively cultural scene town's art gallery and the Museo Guinigi are great places for art buffs or to spend a rainy after- noon. Local cuisine, similar to that of nearby Pisa and Florence, fea- tures both s olid meat and seafood dishes: try the rovelline lucchesi, thinly sliced beef pan fried and then stewed in tomato sauce with capers and herbs, the stockfish with garbanzo beans or stewed rabbit. Very typical of the area is the us e of far r o, the ancient grain from the nearby Garfagnana region similar to s pelt: try it by ordering the minestra di farro, a delicious soup prepared with beans and ham. A great place to savor a tra- ditional and inexpensive meal is the O s ter ia da Ros olo (http://www.osteriadarosolo.com /), in the town center close to the Church of San Michele in Foro. For a more sophisticated experi- ence book a table at the Antica Locanda dell'Angelo (http:// www.anticalocandadellangelo.co m/Restaurant.en.html), where they offer along side their a la carte specialties and amazing wine selections, two set menus, one that is definitely traditional and the other one that features a creative take of the local cuisine. Should you decide to visit Lucca in the summer, don't miss the acclaimed Lucca Summer Festival in July: this year it will feature internationally renowned artists such as Billy Idol, Elton J ohn, Robbie Williams and Lenny Kravitz. To find out dates and buy tickets vis it: http://www.anticalocandadellan- gelo.com/Restaurant.en.html The clos es t airport is the Aeroporto G. Galilei in Pisa, only half-an-hour by car or by train. Trains and busses shuttle between Lucca and Pisa's main station about every hour. Car parks are scattered around the main road which encircles the city walls. The train station is located just south of the wall and connect Lucca to Florence, Pisa and Viareggio. To reach Lucca by car use the Lucca-Viareggio A11 highway. Piazza Amfiteatro, Lucca Historic town wall in Lucca Clock Tower, Lucca

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