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On a sunny summer evening in Lucca, Italy, I witnessed the simple joy of an old man bicycling with his granddaughter atop the town's wide, fortified wall. Then, on rented bikes, a group of chatty tourists frolicked by. Their enthusiasm was contagious. Squinting at the energy in their smiles, surrounded by dazzling sunshine, it struck me that the su...

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Lucca stands out in Tuscany. It’s old, pretty, wrapped in Renaissance walls. It’s kept its old town center. Etruscans, Ligurians, and then Romans from 180 BCE laid its roots. Roman layouts and ruins pepper the place. Ancient roads boosted Lucca's spot, making it a Lombard duchy powerhouse. Goths, Byzantines, Lombards all had their time ruling. In t...

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In this article, we delve into the 20 best places to retire in Italy for US citizens. Navigating retirement planning involves strategic decision-making, and for numerous US citizens, Italy has emerged as an enchanting destination to retire to. These American retirees are attracted to the richness of the Mediterranean lifestyle, the beauty of stunni...

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Among the many treasures of Tuscany lies Lucca, a fairytale-like city with towering Renaissance walls in the shadows of the Apuan Alps and the Pisan Mountain Range. During the Middle Ages, this beautiful medieval town became a prominent centre for silk manufacturing, and by the 15th century, it had become the largest producer of silk textiles in Eu...

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As everyone knows, Pisa has the famous tilted tower you can climb, but lesser-known Lucca is encircled by an unspoiled Renaissance wall you can bike. These two Tuscan towns, near Florence and each other, make for an easy day trip from Florence. But if you have time for more than a touristy quickie, each offers great Italian city scenes — offering v...

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Dear friends, the year ends as many things scheduled for 2024 overlap with the last things for 2023. For We the Italians, the year ended with participation in a prestigious conference entitled "Cultura ed identità delle comunità italiane all’estero: tra Turismo delle Radici ed internazionalizzazione del Sistema Paese." The event was organized in be...

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December 16 Lucca, Italy

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Despite its proximity to Florence and Pisa, Lucca is a Tuscan gem that is often skipped over by tourists. And if visited, it’s often only as a day trip. But with so much to offer, I can assure you that it’s worth spending a weekend in this splendid town. Lucca delivers all the charm one expects of a small Tuscan town, while still having a unique id...

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Discover one of the most important cities of art in Italy, which combines the thousand-year history told by its walls with a memorable gastronomy. To the streets where time seems to have stopped and to the hundred churches full of masterpieces, Lucca adds many events, and its people will conquer you. Lucca is one of the most visited cities in Tusca...

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Lucca’s historic city walls form a 3-mile greenway loop that completely encircles the city, and the bike path stretches for the entire loop on top of these walls. You’re not balancing on a narrow wall, as many people first imagine; the walls are 40 feet high but they’re also almost 90 feet across. The path is very wide (wide enough that it was once...

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