Lucca Alleyway

watercolor - 11x15in

Although certain streets were always busy, away from the center, the streets of Lucca become quiet corridors of hidden doorways and medieval windows.

Lucca collection

Saturday Afternoon on Via Pozzotorelli - w/c 11x15 in 

On the weekend, people come from out of town to walk slowly up and down the streets of the old city.  It is a little looking and a lot of being seen.

Florence shopping - w/c 11.15 in

Fred Nuttal imitation - w/c 9x12 in 

morning walk on Lucca walls - w/c - 7x7 in

Views of interlocking shadows were one of the benefits of walking high above the street level as we walked.

Out on the Via Santa Lucia - w/c - 11x15 in

With our rented apartment just inside the walls, it was a pleasant, short walk to go to a nearby cafe for an espresso.

Pisano fountain - w/c 7x7 in

by the river near Ponte San Pietro   - w/c 8x6 in 

the bicycle near the Via del Moro - w/c 7x7in

With the meanderings of the narrow streets, I would often be surprised by a view through an archway to an interior courtyard, like this one.

warehouses near the Serchio - w/c 7x7 in

Riding our bikes near the river, a glance to the side revealed carefully constructed barns that may been there for centuries.

A Viale Giosue Carducci address

watercolor - 7x7 in

Walking along the elevated walls around the town, there are variety of stately homes just outside, built as Lucca expanded in the late nineteenth century.  This was one.

The playing field near Viale G. Carducci

watercolor - 15x11in

Just outside the walls, there is a large playing field where soccer tournaments, and, during our stay, concerts were played.  Men in the shadows watched the activity there.

Serchio River view

watercolor - 15x11in

In the fifteenth century, the Serchio river was a nuisance to Lucca when it flooded.  Now, with the advance of age, it has a attractive bike path along its length with views to villages along its western bank.

Pietrasanta lunch

watercolor 11x15 in

Early in our visit, we stopped in the town of Pietrasanta where we had a choice of outdoor cafes.  The Tuscan reds were in full display in the town square.

watercolor - 11x15in