Lucca

We've had an awful lot of rainy days, so when yesterday dawned a bit better - dull but dry - we decided to go to Lucca and visit the Guinigi Museum.  The museum is housed in the summer residence of the family Guinigi - lords of Lucca in the early 15th cent.

We particularly wanted to see some Etruscan age (5th cent BC) bronze figures which were excavated from a cave near us - the Grotto di Castelvenere.  We have been near the cave many times, but without our headtorches!

An egret explores the muddy moat below the walls of Lucca ...

A lion of Ancient Rome guards the Porta San Pietro - our entry to the town

The vast façade of the Villa Guinigi 

The stylized bronze figurines we came to see - they are very small (only 2 inches high) but rather lovely

Unicorn and lion, medieval style ...

Wonderful marquetry panel made to designs by the great renaissance painter Piero della Francesca 

An excellent lunch was enjoyed in this little bottega nearby, which we will definitely revisit!