Lucca, Italy

Lucca is amazing, and it’s not at all touristy like many of the other places we’ve been to so far. It’s as beautiful as Rome but without any of the tourists! One of my favorite cities in Italy so far! The entire city is scattered with what seems like thousands of adorable piazzas, one of which used to be an ancient Roman Amphitheater. This uniquely round piazza is one of those places that you just have to see in person, because its magic simply cannot be captured using photos or video. Even the churches and cathedrals had a cool unique style. The columns were all different and playful.

The outer walls of the medieval fortified city were turned into a park that locals frequent for jogging, cycling, walking the dog, or simply to enjoy the breathtaking view with a bottle of wine. We found cute restaurants and bars in every corner while we walked the cobblestone streets of the old city. One bar was so packed, the bearded Italian hipsters spilled over to the street. When we asked why this particular bar was so popular we were told it was  2-euro wine night - I'm in! The short visit left me the strong desire to return to Lucca one day, and take the time to explore to really see what this quaint city is all about.