Terre di Canossa Rally in Lucca

     The Terre di Canossa classic car rally came through Lucca on our last Saturday in Italy.  In the 12th century, this area of Italy was known as Canossa, ruled by Queen Matilde.  A system of  castles and roads protected the feudal state of Canossa, and this annual classic car rally honors the history of this ancient land.... 

     After a couple days of light rain, that Saturday dawned sunny and bright.  We walked over to the old town center to stake out a good viewing spot in a piazza where we knew we could see the cars....

     Led by local police on motorcycles, the first cars came through....

     The cars exited the piazza by turning right onto a narrow, otherwise pedestrian-only street....

     The rally cars slowly made their way through the pedestrian foot traffic.  Most people, simply out for a Saturday morning stroll or shopping, had no idea what was going on....

     The cars wound their way through the narrow streets of Lucca, eventually stopping at their check point at Piazza Napoleone, where they were greeted with the rhythmic sounds of a local marching band.  In the controlled chaos, bystanders could wander among the cars and talk with the drivers....

     After checking in, the cars departed the piazza through a cordon of beating drums.  Before exiting Lucca, the cars did a partial lap of the ancient city walls....

Who has the right of way...?

     It was a wonderful event, especially for those of us who like this sort of thing, and honestly, what's not to like?

    Click on any photo to enlarge....

Our Last Week....in Lucca

     We spent the last week of our 2019 trip in Lucca, Tuscany.  The historic center of Lucca is surrounded by a massive ancient wall, tall enough to provide excellent views of the city, and wide enough for cars to drive on....

   We have written about the Lucca city walls in a previous blog, complete with many photos.  Here is a link...

                http://homegirlchris3.blogspot.com/2016/04/lucca-beautiful-lucca.html



   We have stayed in Lucca twice before, at an agriturismo a couple miles from Porta Santa Maria, the north entrance to the historic center, and at a B&B within the city walls.  This time we rented a cottage just outside the walls, about a five minute walk to Porta Santa Maria.  The location was excellent, and there were many positives, but the cottage was a bit rustic....

Rustic kitchen with beamed ceiling....

Original carved marble sink....

The cottage even had a fireplace....

Nice spot to relax....

     No visit to Lucca is complete without seeing a performance of "Puccini e la sua Lucca".  Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca, and there is a concert every night of arias from his works.  The performances are held in the ancient Church of San Giovanni, and they are just wonderful.  Performed by three people - a soprano, a tenor, and a pianist, the shows usually close with "O Sole Mio"....

 

 

The show we saw was "Piccini's Women"....

    Some sights and scenes around Lucca....

    

Carousel in Piazza Napoleone....

Great little Ape delivery vehicle....

Horse and buggy in Piazza Napoleone....

Puppy in a puffy coat....

Puppy in a push cart....

Puppy on a bike....

View from the ancient walls....

School kids on a field trip to the ancient walls of Lucca....on lunch break....

One of the many bicycles in Lucca....

Church of San Michele in Foro....

Horse and carriage in front of San Michele, a lucky passenger ordering Spritzes....

A Spritzy carriage ride....

Tiny Pizzeria Da Felice for slices of pizza...take out or squeeze in....

    We did a day trip to the coastal town of Viareggio.  It's just a thirty minute drive from Lucca.  Viareggio is known for its beaches, its promenade lined with restaurants, and its Art Nouveau architecture.  So different from other places we've visited in Italy....

It is packed in the summer....

Beaches and boats....

Art Nouveau promenade....

Each beach has a name and restaurant....

Florida beach....?

There was a market set up on the boardwalk the day we were there...until the rains came....

Not sure we wanted to eat here....

Some of the Art Nouveau buildings....

An unusual fountain....

....topped with....what is this thing....?

You must follow the parking rules....

    We had an interesting and very tasty lunch at a funky place in Lucca called Trattoria Ubaldo.  The place is decorated with bizarre and scary items.  The owner Ubaldo is a heavily tattooed and pierced guy, a bit fierce looking, but he is sweet and gentle.  We watched him take care of a family at a big table, and he was so gentle with the kids.  The food was excellent, and all in all it was quite a show.....

You will like my wine....

    In the center of Lucca is an oval-shaped piazza called Piazza dell'Anfiteatro.  The old Roman amphitheater stood here, but it is long gone.  The buildings surrounding the amphitheater remain, and create a joyful place that you are just drawn to....

    There are many restaurants and gelaterias in the piazza.  We had a couple of good meals at Trattoria da Gherardo, including the last night we were in Lucca.  It was really special... as the evening turned to night the ambiance of the piazza became magical.....

    The amphitheater may be gone, and for now so are we, but we will return to beautiful Lucca....Cheers!

    Click on any photo to enlarge....