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MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL LTD
Voysey House,
Barley Mow Passage
London W4 4GF
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8742 3355
USA: 1-800-988-6168
Canada: (647) 382 1644
Australia: 1300 55 95 95
New Zealand: 61-7-3377-0141
Voysey House,
Barley Mow Passage
London W4 4GF
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8742 3355
USA: 1-800-988-6168
Canada: (647) 382 1644
Australia: 1300 55 95 95
New Zealand: 61-7-3377-0141
Lucca - Art & Architecture in Northern Tuscany
- Allows for leisurely exploration of one of the most beautiful and engaging of Tuscan cities.
- Within magnificent ramparts, a treasury of sculpture, painting and architecture, Romanesque and Renaissance in particular.
- Excursions to Prato, Pistoia, Pisa and Barga and a country villa.
ITINERARY
DAY 1
2012
Fly at c. 11.00am from London Gatwick to Pisa. Visit the Romanesque basilica of San Piero a Grado. Drive to Lucca.
DAY 2
Lucca—secure within a complete circuit of Renaissance ramparts is a network of mediaeval streets and squares echoing the Roman grid plan—visit San Michele in Foro and the cathedral of San Martino, Romanesque churches with important sculptures (tomb of Ilaria del Carretto) and paintings, and Torre Guinigi—an afternoon drive to the Villa Torrigiani which has a 19th-cent. landscaped garden with a sunken garden from the 1750s.
DAY 3
Prato—inland to Prato, a city that built its wealth on cloth-working—the mediaeval cathedral has outstanding Renaissance sculpture and painting, notably Donatello’s pulpit with dancing putti and the Filippo Lippi frescoes, recently restored—Sta Maria delle Carceri is a rare example of an Early-Renaissance centrally planned church—the Museo della Pittura Murale has good paintings by both Lippis, Lorenzo Monaco and Paolo Uccello.
DAY 4
Barga, Lucca—drive up through forested hills to Barga, a delightful little town with a fine Romanesque cathedral at its summit—free afternoon in Lucca.
DAY 5
Pistoia—the exceptionally attractive town of Pistoia has important art and architecture—buildings include the octagonal baptistry and the cathedral, both at one end of the main square, and the Renaissance hospital, Ospedale di Ceppo—sculpture includes the pulpit in Sant’Andrea carved by Giovanni Pisano, one of the finest Gothic sculptures south of the Alps, a unique silver altarpiece in the cathedral, the product of 150 years’ workmanship, and the coloured terracotta frieze by the della Robbia workshop on the Ospedale.
DAY 6
Pisa—in the High Middle Ages Pisa was one of the most powerful maritime city-states in the Mediterranean, the rival of Venice and Genoa, deriving great wealth from its trade with the Levant—the ‘Campo dei Miracoli’ is a magnificent Romanesque ensemble of cathedral, monumental burial ground, campanile (‘Leaning Tower’) and baptistry, all of gleaming white marble—among the major artworks here are the pulpit by Nicola Pisano (1260) and the 14th-century Triumph of Death fresco—optional afternoon walk to the historic centre—drink in Lucca’s Roman Amphitheatre before dinner.
DAY 7
Lucca. Visit the Romanesque church of San Ferdiano, one of the finest in Lucca, with façade mosaics and a chapel sculpted by Jacopo della Quercia. The Villa Guinigi, a rare survival of a 14th-century suburban villa, is now a museum with outstanding mediaeval panel paintings. The flight from Pisa arrives London Gatwick at c. 4.00pm.
DATES & PRICES
TOUR CONTAINS
TESTIMONIALS
Very interesting range of excursions. Enjoyed the mixture of half and full day excursions and the opportunity to visit less “touristy" places.
B.R., West Midlands
Hotel was comfortable and clean and the staff were very friendly and helpful too! Location was perfect.A.D., Surrey
Another very successful Martin Randall holiday. Can’t wait for the next one.A.D., Surrey
One of the nicest things on a tour of the Randall type is the little extra added especially if one could not do it on one’s own.P.H., Kent
Very interesting range of excursions. Enjoyed the mixture of half and full day excursions and the opportunity to visit less “touristy: places.B. R., West Midlands
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