Lucca Encounters the World

Because of its location, Lucca has always been able to adapt itself to the various historical cycles. Though undoubtedly affected by the spirit of each age, the city's culture and institutions remain deeply rooted in the traditions and character of its people. On several occasions, Lucca became the setting for events of great political and symbolic significance for Europe and beyond. It was where Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus met to discuss the power basis for the first Triumvirate, and where, in 1541, the foundations for the Council of Trent were laid by Charles V and Pope Paul III Farnese.--Through the contributions of distinguished local scholars, this book provides a complete account both of these significant moments and of the extraordinary specific character of Lucca, in its culture and history.--Seventeen essays cover such subjects as the economic history of the city, its urban layout, the Volto Santa relic and pilgrimages in the Middle Ages, the city's place in the Grand Tour, the 18th-century reprint of Diderot and d'Alenbert's famous Encyclopedie, and the history of music in Lucca -- the birthplace of Boccherini and Puccini.--The contributors include Claudio Rovai, Renzo Sabbatini, Gilberto Bedini, Giulio Ciamoltrini, Giuseppe Ghilarducci, Antonio Romiti, Romano Silva, Simonetta Adorni Braccesi, Maria Teresa Filieri, Marco Paoli, Giorgio Tori, Roberta Martinelli, Maria Luisa Trebiliani, Roberto Martinelli, Paolo Emilio Tomei, Gabrielle Biagi Ravenni, Maria Adrianna Giusti, and Francesca Velani