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map of Lucca map of Pisa
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The Sunday afternoon excursion wil be to the medieval walled town of Lucca. You may find information about Lucca bellow. Brochures and maps will be available at the Conference.
     
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HISTORICAL
NOTES Lucca was centainly located within Etruscan territory. But archaelogical finds and documents of any significance are all from Roman times. In 89 BC Lucca become a "municipium", and by 56 BC was important enough to provide the meeting place for Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, who formed their triumvirate here. Lucca's good defences put it in a privileged position during the barbarian invasions of Italy, and from about 570 AD it become the centre of Longobard administration, and the capital of Tuscia. The oldest religious buildings in Lucca dater back to this time. By the twelfth century the importance of Luca was reconized when, in 1162, the Emperor gave it the status of free Commune. Silk working become the Commune's main economic activity, dictating the shape of its social structure, which was dominated by rich and powerful companies of merchants who opened trading centres throughout Europe. Lucca's power peaked under the rule of Castruccio di Gerio degli Antelminelli. From the mid 1500s Lucca become an independent aristocratic Republic. As such, it was constantly concerned with maintaining and defending its cherished "Libertas". This was the thrust behind the new circle of town walls, those we see today, construction of which was finished in 1650. The Republic came to an end with the French occupation in 1799. From 1805 to 1813 Lucca was the Principality of Felice and Elisa Baciocchi -Elisa was Napoleon's sister- and experienced renewed prosperity and significant new town-planning operations. When Napoleon fell an the Baciocchis were driven out, Lucca become a Bourbon dukedom. In 1847 Charles Ludwig of Bourbon consigned the town to Leopold II of Lorraine. This is the act by which Lucca become part of Tuscany. |
| THE WALLS Lucca is one of the few towns in Italy with its defensive wall system still intact today. The first defence circle goes back to Roman times. Very few traces of it survive, most of them to be found in the walls of the church of Santa Maria della Rosa. Following the renaissance of the year 1000 there was a need for new city walls, and these were in fact built between the 11th and 13th centuries. Military requirements led to the construction of the final circle of city walls. Surrounded and threatened by the the territories of Florence and the Estense Dukedom. both of which had ambitions to expand, Lucca needed to ensure its safety and independence, and the medieval fortifications had now been bypassed by developments in artyillery technology. In 1554 work started on the new walls and would be finished only in the middle of the next century. Twelve metres high, they consist of elevn curtain walls, ten spur bastions and one platform, called San Frediano. Internally there is a terreplain 30 metres thick at the base. On the bastions can still be seen the little barraks buildings that housed the guards or acted as storage for munitions. Under Bourbon rule the walls were adapted to a "public walk" and planted with the trees that still grace them today. PALAZZO MANSI This is the only monumental-sizereligious building from the 16th century still standing within the walls. BIRTHPLACE OF THE COMPOSER GIACOMO PUCCINI This is now the location of the Puccini museum. CHURCH OF SAN MICHELE IN FORO This is built in white limestone on the site of an earlier, 8th century building. Beginning in the 11th century, work on the new structure continued into the 14th. The square occupies the space of the ancient Roman forum. PALAZZO PRETORIO In the loggia of this 16th century building is the monument to Matteo Civitali. VIA FILLUNGO Known since the 12th century, this church has undergone much modification. Among these, the 13th century addition of the mosaic facade. The church contains precious works of art. In the chapel dedicated to Santa Zita her corpse is preserved. It is much venerated by the Lucchese.
ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE |
In Bourbon times the architect Lorenzo Nottolini
restored the Amphitheatre to public use. The ancientarena thus reclaimed the visible
status that we can still enjoy today. VILLA GUINIGI Constructed in the 14th century, this id the only surviving tower of the many that were afeature of the old city. With a tree growing from its crown, it stands in the square that bears its name. The tower is open to visitors, who can enjoy an unsurpassable view of the city. PORTA SAN GERVASIO This is one of the two entrance points that can still be seen that led though the mediaval circle of walls. CATHEDRAL OF SAN MARTINO The 13th century facade is construscted with sculpted pilasters in various shapes and its portico is decorated with very fine basreliefs. Of very ancient (6th century) origin, the church become a cathedral as from the 8th. It houses the wooden sculpture of the volto Santo (the Holy Visage) and Jacopo della Quercia's tomb sculpture of Ilaria del Carretto. CHURCH OF SAN GIOVANNI AND SANTA REPARATA This was of very ancient foundation, and is indeed said to be on a pagan site. It was bishopric until the 8th century. VIA DEL BATTISTERO This is also known as Via degli Antiquari. PIAZZA NAPOLEONNE Also known as "Piazza Grande", this square is dominated by the Palazzo Pubblico, subsequently the Ducal and now the Provincial headquarters. TEATRO DE GIGLIO This neoclassical 19th century structure bears witness to Lucca's musical tradition. PALAZZO PFANNER The fine garden of this 17th century villa is open to visitor. BOTANICAL GARDENS Created in 1820 by the Royal University of Lucca, this contains many rare species, including examples from Lucca's tradition of agro-foodstuffs. |
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| Cortical neuronal mechanisms and psychophysics of orientation and motion in three-dimensional space |
| Description of the meeting | Program | Abstracts | Organization | Various |