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| San Michele in Foro in Lucca, Italy Do you see the Archangel on the very top? Pisan style, multicolored marble, exquisite |
That's right! About a year ago, I was in Lucca, Italy where I daily perambulated the beautiful wall that encloses that delightful Tuscan city. Now I'm on my way to Chester in Cheshire which is also encircled and whose wall is even older than Lucca's which wasn't started until the 1500s.
Although Chester, Montana (no wall!) was probably named for Chester, Pennsylvannia, the American "Chesters" must have been inspired by the ancient English town. The Romans' settlement in England, dating from the 1st century AD, was called Deva, a fort next to the Dee River from which they deployed their largest permanent legion. There is still a section of Roman masonry in Chester's wall and the outline follows the Roman's outer fort for much of its length.
What a treat to be able to compare two walled cities to which I am tied by blood, birth, and circumstance. The circularity of my journey from Chester to Lucca to Chester strikes me as an inevitable consequence in my longing to find my way back home. I have many homes, as it turns out. I've just begun to discover them all!
While I make my way to England, I will gaze at beautiful Lucca, Italy and long for her wall. May Chester's be as mighty and as beautiful.
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| Lucca's wall and lush green meadow on its outside |
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| The top of the wall where everyone goes to see and be seen |
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| Lucca's wall, the perfect place for an evening passeggiata |
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