Pictures images & photos of Lucca and the historical and landmark sites of Lucca, Tuscany Italy. Lucca is an ancient city in central west Italy inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea in Tuscany. The earliest known inhabitants of Lucca were Ligurians who were replaced by the Etruscans who laid out the city in a typical Etruscan grid pattern. None of Etruscan Lucca remains visible as the Romans created a new city when they formed a colony there in 180 BC. The Roman City of Lucca was important enough for Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus reaffirmed their political alliance known as the First Triumvirate in Lucca in 56 BC. Today the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro (Amphitheatre) is one of Lucca's main attractions with cafe terraces ringing the square creating a romantic venue where it can be imagined Puccini, a resident of Lucca, was inspired to write some of his great operas. Lucca has two examples of beautiful Romanesque churches, San Michele in Foro and the Duomo of Lucca. San Michele in Foro is a Romanesque church first mentioned in 795 as being in the old Roman Forum. It was rebuilt in a Romanesque style in 1070 by Pope Alexander II, who was Bishop Anselm of Lucca until 1061, and its present facade was completed in the 13th century. The facade of San Michele in Foro is a beautiful example of Romanesque design with high blind Romanesque arches reaching nearly half up the building on top of which are built four storey of open arcades.

The Cattedrale di San Martino or Lucca Duomo was built just after San Michele in Foro and follows A similar style. Lucca Duomo differs in that it only had 3 arcades but the arches on its facade lead to a portico within which the wall around the main door has Bas relief sculptures. The Lucca Duomo was also begun in 1063 commissioned also by Pope Alexander II, its Romanesque west facade was begun in 1204 by Guido Bigarelli di Como and its interior was rebuilt in the 14th century in Gothic style. The Basilica of San Frediano is a Romanesque church in Lucca situated on the Piazza San Frediano. Built in the style of a typical Romanesque Basilica the Basilica of San Frediano was built in 1112-1147. In the 13th century A huge mosaic panel was added to the facade of the church which was decorated with mosaics depicting Christ Pantocrator above the Apostles. The mosaic was made in an Eastern Roman Byzantine style by Berlinghiero Berlinghieri of Lucca. The mosaic depicts Christ sitting in a Mondorla, eye, giving his blessing.

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