tours
lucca, pisa
Founded by the Etruscans and developed as a Roman town, Lucca became the capital of the Lombard Duchy of Tuscia, then developed as a municipality, and finally as a republic. It is one of the few cities to preserve its XV-XVII century walls (about 4,5 km long) intact. Its historic center is well preserved and includes many medieval churches of great architectural richness. Among the most beautiful are the Church of San Michele and the Duomo, as well as towers, bell towers and Renaissance palaces.
The square of the amphitheater, born on the ruins of a Roman amphitheater, is architecturally unique.
Not far from Lucca is the city of Pisa. The City Center is located in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, with the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Baptistery, the Monumental Cemetery and the famous leaning tower, known throughout the world.
The works for the construction of the cathedral began in 1064, those of the Baptistery (where Galileo Galilei was baptized, in 1564) began in 1152, and those of the tower in 1173.
The tower was built in several stages because of the sinking of the land. It was completed in 1350. In the last years of the 20th century the tower needed to be fixed and so its inclination has been corrected using a contemporary technique, never used before.
The Cemetery was the last work in the square. Inside there are the tombs of the most illustrious Pisans, but also of emperors and other important people.