Lucca is small medieval town located near the Ligurian Sea, where you can get a dose of fresh air and escape the bustle of other parts of Tuscany. One of its most unique features is the 30 foot-wide walls that surround the city. Lucca was founded by the Etruscans and became a Roman colony in 180 BC, which accounts for its rectangular street plan. Do not come to Lucca with the same intentions as you do for Rome or Florence or you will miss what this place can offer you: a stillness that you may have never experienced in your lifetime.

I was captivated by the early morning in Lucca. People were moving at a different pace than I’m used to: riding their bikes, stopping to say hello, and oddly enough, everyone seemed to be smiling. In Lucca people really enjoy each moment, relishing in the simplicity of reading the newspaper or sipping a cappuccino.