Bologna to Lucca

No alarms needed this morning.  We were all up fairly early, made a breakfast with supplies the our airbnb owner had left for us. 

This morning the only thing I really wanted to do was go the Sanctuary of Madonna di San Lucca.  This involves a walk through 3.8 km of Porticos, consisting of over 650 arches built from 1674 to 1793.  Most of the walk is uphill, and many steps near the end, but you are rewarded with some fantastic views of Bologna on the way up, and on top some beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. The Porticcos start at Porta Saragozza



Cappuccino to start the day



Porta Saragozza



Porta Saragozza from the porticos side



At the beginning of the portico, some have shops



The first 300 or so are flat



At the start of the uphill, notice how everyone is still smilling

Stadium in background

Busy walking on a Sunday morning



Some had little devotion chapel area where we saw a few people praying or leaving flowers



Almost at the end



The last part was steps

After looking around the top for a bit we decided to go into the Church as it was open for mass.  We weren't in there 5 minutes when they said that mass was over, 5 minute church service for us today I guess.  We got in line to go around the back of the alter, I wish we knew more about what we were seeing, we assume it was to pray to the Madonna.  Also there wasn't a traditional communion going on as we are used to, may people were lined up to kiss something that the priests were holding, will need to do more research on that to see if this is at every Italian mass, or something special here.



Great views, colder here and a bit windy.  Was good to cool us off after all that climbing uphill

After our church service headed back down the 3.8 km that we just came up.  Pretty steep in spots, and hard on the knees but not so hard on the breathing.  Lots of bikers coming up the very steep roadway that runs along the Porticos, they would have been faster to push their bikes walking, and wow  do they fly down on the descent.  Many people out today doing the same walk, some jogging up, many with dogs, all ages.  One group of about 75 or so were walking up saying the Rosary, these were all quite young people that must have been here on some kind of pilgrimage. 

Saying Rosary on the way up

From the top Andre spotted what looked like a huge cemetery, so I knew where we were off to next.  First stop was for some Gelato, breakfast calories are long burnt off by now.  We then find the entrance to the cemetery, definitely nothing like we have ever seen before.   So many amazing sculptures and monuments, lots of old money here.  There were a few people visiting, and many of the burial spots were well looked after.  They have ladders in lots of spots so you can climb up if you have brought flowers for loved ones.

Amazing Cemetery



You leave 2 euro for a watering can and get it back if you return it

You know the cemetery is big when this is here

Now that we've visited a cemetery and burnt off more calories lunch time.  This is easier said than done as many places are not open on Sunday afternoon.  We tried to get into the restaurant we were recommended the other day but it is full again and we needed a reservation.  We did eventually find a small restaurant and had a fantastic meal.  Again pasta for us all, and I finally ordered a spritz, which is a traditional drink here with sparkling wine and Campari (one of the choices) which I really liked.

After lunch went back to the tourist info to find out addresses of the oldest portico in the city.  I had seen this online somewhere but forgot to write it down.  Found an amazing example of a wooden one not far from the city centre.  Also found another church that was open that we explored.  We also visited 2 churches.



Lots of store/bars/restaurants paints their door to advertise what they are when they are not open



People enjoying the sun and coffees in the main square

Old Portico

Old wooden portico

Time to head back to our apartment and pick up our luggage and get the taxi to the train terminal.  Arrived back in Lucca at about 7:30 to a little bit of rain.  Not too bad so we walked back to our apartment.  Got settled in, not much food here and it is pouring out now so we get our rain gear on and head out to the nearest restaurant to get a pizza.  Found a cute spot not far from us, but the menu looked to good to order pizza so we all got different pastas again.  Finished of the dinner with Panna Cotta, which we hadn't had yet, delicious, I will order this again.

Back to the apartment, I don't stay up very late, work tomorrow, but the others I think stay up to make plans for tomorrow.