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Art Cities >> LUCCA
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Our travel guide to Lucca provides information, history, itineraries and vacation rentals such as villas, hotels, country & farmhouses, apartments, bed & breakfast lodging & accommodation.
SOME HISTORY....
Surrounded by imposing walls, Lucca
has Etruscan origins, even though the most important remains
go back to the Roman period. The Longobard chose the Cities to
be the capital of Tuscia. The most important religious buildings
were built during this period and laid the ground for the performance
of the Cities, which became a free Comune (Municipality) in 1162.
Lucca became a flourishing commercial state in the 13th century
and reached its major prosperity under the leadership of Castruccio
Castracani degli Antelminelli. Interested in defending its precious
freedom, Lucca raised the third boundary wall at the end of
the 16th century. These Cities walls are still today intact. After
a short period under Napoleon, the Cities became a Bourbon Duchy
under Maria Luisa di Bourbone - Parma, and then incorporated
into Tuscany. |
Discovering the Cities |
| Roman and medieval Lucca |
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LOCAL
EVENTS
The most important event is without any
doubt the Volto Santo, , which is celebrated the 13th
of September every year with a procession from the Chiesa di
San Frediano to Piazza San Martino. Lucca is also famous for
the Palio della Balestra (the Crossbow Contest). The
national contest is held every 5th year, and the local contest
twice a year. The Palio in July is dedicated to San Paolino,
while the Palio in September is dedicated to Santa Croce.
Even in this occasion there is a parade in traditional costume
along the streets of the Cities and after the parade it is time
for the contest. The participants should hit the target (called
"corniolo" or the "tasso") at a distance
of 40 m with the bow. The traditional events are a good occasion
to taste some local specialities, like the famous soups called
"infarinata" and "cipollata", the great
cooked meat and the pastries such as the "buccellata"
and a delicious bun which for these special occasions is big,
even as big as a wagon wheel. |
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