Italy - day 6 (Pisa and Lucca)

We wandered around Tuscany today and then went to eat in the wine cellar of a family farm in Monte Carlo (the original Monte Carlo...the one in Monaco is just a copy!). First, we stopped by Pisa and saved the tower. The sun was shining and the grass was green and we thoroughly enjoyed our walk around the grounds. Other than the tower, there is not much to see in Pisa so we meandered to Lucca. Lucca was another favorite. It is the rare city that still has its original wall. Most of the other cities in Italy tore down their walls to build roads, but Lucca kept theirs. More about Lucca below. After Lucca, we traveled to a family farm where they grow olives for olive oil. We got a lesson on what makes olive oil good and bad and where NOT to buy it (cough, cough...Pisa) and how to put it on everything. Wow, the food was the best meal we had all trip. We couldn't get enough. We had olives, sun dried tomatoes, bean soup, potatoes, sausages, chicken, ribs, salad, and I'm sure much more I can't remember. I almost had to roll back to the bus.

More pics!

 The leaning tower of Pisa!! About 10 years ago, they closed it down so they could "shore it up." During that time, no one could climb to the top. Now it is all fixed and you can climb it again. Nope, didn't do that either. I wanted to but didn't. I guess when it comes to climbing stairs I'm a wimp. This is a pic of the tower and the cathedral.

 The cathedral and the baptistry. These buildings are HUGE! look at the people at the bottom of the pics.

A close up of one of the mosaics on the cathedral above the doors. I'm not sure what story this one is telling but I loved looking at it.

A pic of the doors and the mosiac. These doors were 3D. Very amazing. There were eight panels, telling eight different stories. 

The pillar to the side of the door. Engraved stone.

 LUCCA!! This place was amazing. So, the history is that they were very, very rich but they had royalty on their side so no one actually invaded to take over. Once that happened, they (the people of Lucca) decided to become invisible. So, they started acting like they were just farmers and didn't let anyone know how rich they were. About 150 years ago, the King of Italy came and said "Lucca, you are part of Italy! You are Italians!" and they said "We are??" Our tour guide was hilarious.

  

So, Lucca had a Colosseum! How random is that? It held gladiator games, was a stable, was a market and is now shops and housing. Here is a pic of the outside and the inside.

It was one of the first sunny days we had had all week. We thoroughly enjoyed just sitting in the square and enjoying the sun. I actually take a nap. I had my scarf over my nose cuz the cold air was hurting my lungs. So, here are some pics. First is a girl playing in the square. She was so randomly dressed it was CUTE!. Allison and I sleeping in the square. Our point of view from our nap spot.

 




Lucca still has its original medieval wall. Most walls were torn down to make roads, not this one. It was awesome! I just needed Kaitlyn's cloak to feel truly epic. Here is what you are seeing below. First, on top of the wall. It is about 5 miles all the way around and people are constantly walking, jogging, and biking on the top. It was so big! Next, is a view of the wall from the top. Finally, the flowers that grow up there. So pretty.

  

Pics of the family farm where we had the best meal of the trip.

  

 

Did I mention we had to climb five flights of stairs to get to our room in Montecatini? Here are the stairs and the pillars on the stairs. They were gorgeous but really tiring to climb.