One of the unique features about Lucca is the rampart fortifications around the historic city center. Around 1500, when military technology advanced to the point that the old city walls weren't good protection, the city built a very impressive fortification system. The walls are so thick that there is a system of tunnels and passageways inside them, but they also have dirt against one side and on the top so that trees are growing along the top of the wall.
Since the rampart walls never had to be used to defend the city, they are now used as a public park - wonderful walking and bike paths along the top, huge trees that shade park benches and large areas where tables allow families to picnic and old men to play games. Lucca is a huge city, but the oldest part is contained within the ramparts - a peaceful, pleasant city perfect for exploring on foot.
We walked around the whole top, with short detours to see the oval-shaped Piazza del Mercato (which used to be the site of the Roman amphitheater), gaze up at the Torre dei Guinigi (which has oak trees growing on TOP of it) and smack down gelato at Gelato Veneto (you know - the important things :)
There are many beautiful sites to see from the wall without leaving it - such as the gardens of Palazzo Pfanner and San Martino, Lucca's cathedral. To make Lucca even prettier, the Apuan Alps are nearby - some people call this area "Little Switzerland" because of the views. Due to a run-in with the automatic ticket vending machine at the train station in Florence, we missed the early train to Lucca - but we hope to return again before we leave and see more of Lucca, the "city within a city".....
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