Lucca and its Region

	Lucca: ancient walled town. It's just small enough to walk around comfortably without getting lost. Despite the periodic hordes of tourists that flood through the streets, Lucca remains a pleasant and 'lived-in' town. Traffic isn't at all bad within the walls but is fairly continuous outside the walls.

The countryside to the north consists of the foothills of the Apuan Alps. On the road to Camaiore, the little village of Torre sits on the side of the valley. Here are some pictures from the upper part of Torre, where one can find all kinds of wild flowers by the roadside including this Pyramidal Orchid.
Just over the hills from Torre is another valley, at the head of which is the regional centre of Pescaglia. This is a really pleasant village, with characteristic streets that are largely untroubled by cars.

Further into the Apuan Alps lies Stazzema, another remote centre deep in the hills. Above it stands the Pania Della Croce and a series of smaller but no less interesting hills, including the towers of Procinto, the vertical face of Nona and Matanna, not to mention Monte Forato (the pierced mountain). Just across and down the valley, the little village of Farnocchia provides a fabulous view of these mountains, especially Monte Corchia and the Pania.
On the east side of the same mountains, there is a well known cave 'La Grotta del Vento' that occupies a good part of the Pania Secca. These pictures are from just above the cave centre. Look for the hole in Monte Forato near the skyline on the right.

Finally, a hazy view of Le Alpi Apuane from Corfino across in the Garfagnana. The peak under the cloud is La Pania Della Croce (La Regina delle Apuane), to its left is the Pania Secca and to the right is Monte Sumbra.