Lucca - San Pietro Somaldi

Lucca existed already in Etruscan times and became a Roman colony in 180 BC. The Diocese of Lucca dates back to the first century, legends tell, that St. Paulinus, a disciple of St. Peter, was the first Bishop of Lucca. In medieval times Lucca was the residence of the Margraves of Tuscany. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), Lucca constituted itself as an independent republic. Actually the "Republic of Lucca" existed from 1160 to 1805.

San Pietro Somaldi was founded already within the 8th century by a person samed "Summal" (-> "Somaldi"), but the structure seen today dates back to the 12th century. The poster to the right guides the tourist to the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini ("Madama Butterfly", "Tosca"..). He was born in Lucca in 1858.