TRIP TO TUSCANY - Thursday, January 12, 2017 - Day Three - Lucca and Pisa

Up at 8 and had breakfast at the hotel before heading to the train station. We could have driven but the train is so reasonable and convenient that we decided to keep the car parked today. Visited Lucca, a walled city, about 20 miles from Montecatini. The city has a number of beautiful churches, more towers than I could keep track of, and a wonderful old world feel. We walked much of the 2 1/2 miles of wall that surrounds the city, stopped for a tea and pastry, and enjoyed the amazing architecture the city had to offer. 

The wall - still intact

One of the entrances into the old city

Cathedral of San Martino

One example of the beautiful statuary that abounds in the city

Another example

Beautiful doors everywhere

And I mean everywhere

Narrow streets to get lost in

After our time in Lucca, we hopped back on the train and in 25 minutes were just a 10 minute walk from the treasures of Pisa.  Again beautiful architecture abounds and we enjoyed exploring some notable classics. We visited the Cathedral "Duomo", the Baptistry, and the infamous Leaning Tower and they did not disappoint.

View after you entered the wall to Pisa

Duomo - the largest in the world when it was built in 1063,

The Baptistry

The Leaning Tower

Altar of El Duomo

Ceiling of El Duomo - Medici crest

Tomb of St. Ranieri - Patron Saint of Pisa

The Bronze Doors

It is amazing how much it leans - some pictures don't do it justice.

We rode the train back to Lucca, switched trains and continued on to Montecatini. We are learning the train system. It is confusing in some small stations because they don't have signs letting you know which track you are supposed to be on.  In one case we asked La polizia and they couldn't even help us but we always lucked out and had someone that could point us in the right direction. Ron took a little rest when we came back and I blogged. We ate at a small restaurant down from the hotel. Ron loved his warm seafood salad and I was ready for some simple spaghetti bolognese. 

Delizioso