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Giacomo Puccini: Historical Sites in Lucca, Italy

Lucca is a walled city in the Tuscany region of Italy. The walls, built in the 16th century, are a popular option for walking or biking around the city. It’s a convenient getaway destination for travelers visiting Florence (about an hour an a half drive) when they want to escape the busyness of the city. We visited Lucca on a day trip while on a Mediterranean cruise, and enjoyed the time we spent there. We had the better part of the day to explore Lucca, which was time to see the highlights, but there’s plenty more to see on a return visit. Lucca is the birthplace of the composer Giacomo Puccini. Puccini was born in Lucca in 1858 and died in Brussels in 1924, and music fans – especially opera lovers – consider visiting an homage to Puccini. While there, […]

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Onboard the Viking Neptune: Iconic Western Mediterranean Itinerary [Review]

The Mediterranean has always been a place where history and cultures come to life. From the bustling metropolis of Barcelona to the turquoise waters of the French Riviera to the rolling hills of Tuscany – there is so much to see that it can be overwhelming to plan a Mediterranean trip.(I know – I’ve done it.) That’s what enticed me about the Iconic Western Mediterranean itinerary with Viking cruises onboard their Viking Neptune ship. Cruise life not only allows you to sit back and relax while waking up in a new place each day, but this itinerary takes you to some of the most well-known cities in the Mediterranean, made famous for their history, culture, and natural beauty. That is to say, they have become iconic. And while we have spent a fair amount of time in this part of […]

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