While you are visiting Tuscany, the fabulous medieval town of Lucca is not to be missed.
The original Tuscan walls are Lucca’s symbol ,and they still encircle the entire city today. The walls are testimony to the historical events experienced by Lucca. As the capital of small state, Lucca was menaced by many outside forces.
The walls were erected between the middle of the 16th century and the middle of the 17th century in order to protect and guarantee freedom to its citizens.
The ring of the walls has an irregular route, with a length of about 4200 meters: their aggregate consists of 11 screens, 10 bastions, and a platform.
At the beginning of the 19th century, having lost any and all military value, the upper part of the walls were transformed, by the initiative of Maria Luisa di Borbone, into a public walkway enriched by the planting of hundreds of forest trees.
Today the walls have become a vast park permitting a spectacular view both on the inside town and on the surrounding landscape.
As you walk on the walls of Lucca one realizes what a remarkable feat erecting the walls was and how important freedom must have been to the citizens Lucca.
Visit also www.luccatourist.it
