Le Torre di Lucca

In Medieval Times, Lucca was a forest of Towers. Back then it was family against family and the richest ones built towers onto their villas for defense, and as a show of power. “My tower is taller than yours..” Only a handful of the 200 plus towers remain. We climbed up the two tallest and the two that tourists can visit. The main photo was taken inside Guinigi Tower, as we climbed up the 230 steps. Mr. Guinigi was a wealthy silk merchant and Lord of Lucca in the 14th century. To get around the height limit and ensure that his tower was tallest of all, he planted Oak trees on top. Note the oak tree branches hanging down in the two extra photos taken atop the Guinigi tower. Mike is pointing some lesser tower in town. The other tower is the Torre di Ore (clock tower). This tower was originally built and owned by a prominent family in the 13th c. They were defeated and run out of town (or killed off?). The town took over the tower and converted it to a clock tower in 1390. A clock tower was considered an emblem of prestige and progress. The clock was replaced and repaired many times over the centuries. The clock is no longer working, but the bells do ring at noon…. We can attest to that — we were IN the tower to hear it! Extra photos: An alley view of the Clock Tower, the Bells before they started gonging, a view of the Torre di Guinigi from the Torre di Ore.