Giorno Diciannove

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Ciao da Lucca

Ha fatto molto caldo. (It was very hot.) But we still finished our walk. Bravi Roberto e Dow!

This was the hardest day to walk in the 9 years we have been coming to Lucca. The sun was beating down and very little wind if any.

Met our friends from Australia for lunch at Anna & Leo. The special on Saturday was wild boar stew so that is what we ordered.

In the afternoon, we visited the Mansi Palace, which is located in the city center of Lucca. It dates from the late sixteenth century and was acquired in 1616 by the Family Mansi who performed an internal restructuring in the Baroque style, in contrast to the austerity of the exterior features. They made their money in the silk business, which was the biggest industry in Lucca at one time.

The museum was located in this luxury building in 1965 when it became the property of the State and was completely renovated. In 1977 it became the National Art Gallery. They located all the original furnishings, frescoes and tapestries on the walls, some of which had been sold when the family became poor.  They also found all the paintings that had come from Florence. We thought the most interesting were the frescoes on the ceilings, all the paintings and the Bridal Chamber with the original alcove and embroidered silk fabrics.

At night Andrea & Katia picked us up outside the gate and we went to Funiculì, pizzeria Antipasteria Napoletana. Fun place and crowded. Service and food was great.

Oh, the pizza! I had mine with anchovies. The anchovies just exploded in your mouth – great taste. The desserts were interesting - not too sweet and very good.

We have become very close to Katia's family and look forward to our time with them.

Got back around 11:30 pm, walked to our apartment  - Lucca was hopping - people everywhere.