Lucca - All the old familiar places ...

Yesterday was beautiful, if cold, so we decided to head to Lucca for a cycle round the walls.  There werefew people than usual about - partly due to the cold, partly the time of year, and partly the time of day - the long lunch break.  After a leisurely  double circuit - so that's 6 miles, we headed into the streets for a spot of lunch, then some window-shopping and rubber-necking.

On the way back to the train, I photographed the 12th century maze (labirinto) carved on the wall of the Cathedral.  It hearks back to pagan mythology, and bears the Latin  inscription - "This is the labyrinth built by Dedalus of Crete - all who entered therin were lost, save Theseus, thanks to Ariadne's thread." Apparently it originally displayed the figures of the Minotaur and Theseus, but the fingers of thousands, over the centuries, have rubbed them out!)

The distinctive 14 cent. Guinigi Tower, with its garden of holm oaks at the top

Part of the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, which retains the oval shape of the original Roman structure.  Barbara just visible in the foreground

Fragment of the Old Roman wall of Lucca, now sited in a the
Gothic church of Santa Maria della Rosa

Just managing an outside lunch -
with help of some kilowatts from an overhead heater!

Avant-guarde Christmas stable reflects the buildings 
(and the photographer ...) in Piazza San Michele

Delicacy with a Christmas twist - salt cod (baccala)

Lucca's duomo - Cathedrale di San Martino

12th century maze on one of the cathedral pillars