Friday, 7 June  -  Lucca
This morning we met our Backroads tour group of 16 travellers and Mario our guide. 4 couples are from NZ so it is just great to have some ordinary companions who speak normally. Although we assembled at 8.00 in Florence, we didn't set off until 9.00 and that was on a walking tour of Florence CBD.  So we had seen and photographed all the points of interest, but had no idea of what we were admiring.
Josephine you asked about the Duomo photos from yesterday. I can now tell you that it was started in 1296 and intended to be the biggest and best cathedral in Europe. The basic building was completed 150 years later, but by then other cities had outdone them, so additions had to be built. Talk about one-up-manship. The Dome was added in 1420. It actually is in 2 parts and has 463 steps inside to enable folk to get to the top and see the view. Architects are still investigating the remarkable construction which has never been replicated.  The adjacent Baptistry was built in the 11th century. It is far more ornate on the inside but its gold doors were added in in 1452. They were originally made of bronze covered in gold leaf, but in 1990 they were removed into safety and what we admired were just replicas. All fascinating when somebody tells you. Both the church itself and the Baptistry can be entered at a large fee when booked well in advance.

We were left for 2 hours in the plaza for lunch and shopping which suited our fellow travellers who had no earlier shopping experience.  I have now met my 23kg limit so am confined from here on to window shopping. Peter however was talked into the purchase of a genuine leather satchel which I feel will be extremely useful when he needs something with more class than his old trusty canvas bag.

At 1.00 we boarded our small Backroads van and made the 1 1/2 hour trip through the magical Tuscan landscape to our quaint hotel in Lucca, a walled 16th century city of 90,00 people. Our Mario guide took us on a walking tour around this beautiful Etruscan city.
Tonight we enjoy a banquet - Lucca style.