After one short train ride, I have changed destinations and now find myself in another area of Tuscany. Wanting to explore smaller cities, this one also has the advantage of being near the coast. I see day trips in my future. Here are my first impressions of Lucca Italy.
Walkable
What a well laid out city. The historical core is surrounded by ancient fortifications so streets inside there are maze-like and few have sidewalks. Outside of those walls, Lucca is easily to navigate and explore.
I had a 25-minute walk from the train station to my Airbnb upon arrival, and except for one round-a-bout, the route was straightforward. Luckily too, as dragging a heavy suitcase while wearing a backpack can be daunting across cobblestones.
Clean
Not a small city by any stretch, Lucca is really clean. Perhaps I have spent too much time in the south of the country, but here in Tuscany, I am surprised now twice, at the cleanliness of the streets and city in general.
There is very little graffiti, mostly tagging on abandoned buildings. Street art is limited to small paper pieces glued on the old walls. But as far as garbage and trash, it is extremely well organized. I don’t see any overflowing bins, piles of waste dumped in the bushes or similar.
Green
I haven’t seen expanses of bright green grass this large in ages. The contrast against the old red bricks of the architecture and the bright blue sky is incredibly beautiful. Streets and paths are lined with tall shade trees, and those ever-present Roman pines are always a favorite to see.
Picturesque
I gravitate to the old city of course, as that is what holds my interest. Inside the walls I am seeing medieval towers, Italian renaissance palaces and multiple piazzas and churches. Everywhere I look there is something unique to discover and the backdrop of those distant mountains and hills adds depth and beauty.
I am incredibly excited to be in Lucca. It is a city that has been on my radar, as it’s a little smaller and less popular than Siena for example. The history, gentle sense of peace and intense beauty of the surrounding area are exciting me to begin my explorations in depth.
