Lucca - Pisa

I got up early this morning, grabbed a bike, and went looking for the only Tourist Information Centre still operating in Lucca Centro. They told me that because of the public holiday today, there were no buses to Pisa.  It was train or don't go.  We decided to catch the 13.12 train and do some sightseeing beforehand.  Caelli grabbed a bike; Phil chose to walk.  First stop - San Frediano - the church belonging to the monastery that now houses our hostel.

Next stop - Torre del Ore - the clock tower.  Many, many, narrow, rickety wooden steps - but the view was great!

Then Torre Guinigi.  The steps were more substantial, which made two people happier, but there were some steep, narrow metal steps near the top that were challenging.  Torre Guinigi is amazing - it has trees at the top!  The views of San Frediano were better, too as we could see the mosaic facade.

Can you see Caelli and I up on top?

Phil is down there somewhere!

A photo stop at Chiusa di San Martino, the largest church in Lucca Centro.

Off to the station, train to Pisa San Rossore station, short walk to Campo del Miracoli.  The TorrePendente really does lean!  It was a lovely area, with the Baptistery, Duomo, Torre, really old city walls and vast grassed areas (with a 25 euro fine if you walked on them!)

We went inside the Duomo.  It's huge (of course!), with a beautiful gilt ceiling and some lovely artwork.

Back to Lucca and Caelli and I grabbed our bikes from where we'd left them at the station.  We all headed for the recommended gelateria, where Phil was rapt to find licorizia.  This is only the second time we have found a place with this flavour.  After some photos looking out of the windows of our room where certain people were riding their bikes,

Phil's in the third window from the left on the upper level.

Caelli and I spent the next couple of hours riding around atop the city walls, and outside and inside them as well.  They are fantastic!  So many people use them - walkers, joggers, pushers, dogs and cyclists.  Here we are on top of the walls...

 ...outside the walls.....

...and inside the walls.