Why Lucca?

My beloved Lucca, a very old town founded in the II century b.C. by the Romans, is totally surrounded by huge Renaissance wall which turned into a lush public park and enjoyable promenade in the early 1800’s by the will of Duchess Marie Louise of Bourbons, our ruler at that time. Its lovely historical centre is characterized by many works of art: the Guinigi’s Tower, the only tower with trees on top; the Amphitheater Square, turned into a quaint lively square over the centuries; many Churches some of which have beautifully carved detailed facades; imposing both medieval and renaissance palaces, testimony of a wealthy and powerful past. The town is also the place of birth of famous musicians, first and foremost the great opera composer Giacomo Puccini, and still today hosts important music events like “Lucca Summer Festival” during which great artists have performed over the years or other kind of exhibition, for example “Lucca Comics&Games” especially dedicated to comics and cartoons lovers. Besides the town center, its wide province is equally interesting, plenty of beauties and nature: to the north, the territories of Mediavalle and Garfagnana have picturesque hamlets and massive fortresses, while the Versilia area, getting to the coast, is not only famous for fancy seaside resorts but also for pretty little towns where antiquity and modernity coexist harmoniously.