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| Lucca was one of the great city-states of Italy, and was independent (with a few exceptions) from 1160 until Napoleon conquered it during the French Revolutionary Wars. |
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| Lucca is encircled with walls, similar to Ferrara. Our hotel was next to this massive gate in town. |
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| Lucca's churches are incredibly ornate; not only did it have its own great artists, but was able to poach artisans from nearby Florence and Pisa as well. |
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| Lucca Cathedral is almost 1000 years old and is dedicated to St. Martin. |
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| The Church of St. Giovanni dates back to the 4th century, and was originally a Roman bath. |
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| Lucca loves colorful colonnades. |
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| The Shrine of the Sacred Face of Lucca |
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| AAAAAAHHHHHHH! |
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| I guess the Visconti must have helped pay for the church. |
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| A labyrinth from the 12th or 13th century |
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| An ancient drain |
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| A statue of Maria Luisa, a Spanish Infanta that ruled Etruria before Napoleon, was deposed, then ruled Lucca after his deposition. Her statue, ironically, is in the Piazza Napoleon; Napoleon's sister ruled Elisa ruled Lucca while Napoleon was Emperor. |
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| San Michele in Foro was mostly built in the 13th century. |
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| More crazy colonnades! |
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| Nice mosaic |
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| One of Lucca's squares used to be a Roman amphitheater. |
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| A derpy Lucca lion |
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| A strange house in central Lucca |
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| Shoulder lions are the best lions. |
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| An ornate Roman column from Lucca |
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| The Lombards had a tough time portraying animals. |
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| The 7th-13th centuries really struggled with aesthetics. |
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| This 15th century wooden inlay seems very modern. |
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| Putti of Nightmares |
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| The Allegory of Lucca's Liberty from 1611 |
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| Guinigi Tower was built in the 1300s and has holm oak trees on top of it. |
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| What a great spot to survey Lucca. |
