Morning visit to the Cathedral to admire the Volto Santo: according to legend this mediaeval crucifix was carved by Nicodemus and miraculously brought to Lucca in 782. Artistically, the marble tomb of Ilaria del Carretto, wife of Paolo Guinigi, by the Sienese sculptor Jacopo della Quercia, takes pride of place for the touching portrayal of Lucca’s first lady at the beginning of the Quattrocento.
We will also visit the nearby Museo del Opera del Duomo, and amongst other things look at the fascinating Anteminelli Casket – a very rare survival of tooled leather work that still remains an art-history puzzle.
In the afternoon we travel by coach to the Apuan Alps near Carrara. Quarrying of marble here dates back to the 2nd century BC. Michelangelo frequently came here to select the blocks of the rare white variety named after him. Returning towards Lucca, we will stop for a stroll around the beautiful main square of Pietrasanta, looking up at the Rocca, once the summer palace of Paolo Guinigi.