Here is the last post about our day-tour to discover the Walls of Lucca, which has enabled us to know the reason for the shape of the bulwarks (baluardi), the trees upon them, the fron meadows and the particular technique by which the curtains are built. All these elements, as we have seen, were used to make the walls inaccessibile. Under the bulwarks S.Croce, S. Martino and St. Paolino, recent excavations have made possible to visit the underground, a series of tunnels and beautiful vaulted rooms; these weren't built to give relax from summer heat, or environments for fantastic role-playing games, but they hosted the “heart” of the Walls: warehouses for weapons, cannon balls and gunpowder connected by corridors and ventilated by pipelines of air and, visible above the walls, ready to supply the troops and cannons that defended the bulwark. From these corridors you can access the "sortite" (exit) through small doors, hidden and protected by the rounded part of the bulwarks. In case of siege, these doors allowed soldiers to surprise the enemy with rapid incursions to attack the camp, destroy the guns or hitting from behind the troops that attacked the Walls, without opening the main doors of the city. Their shape is due to this, small and therefore easy to open and close fastly, with a corridor down to the outside, narrow and curved to be easily defended, but high enough to allow riding horses close on back of the animals. In a few minutes it could be crossed by the best knights to assault the enemy catching him by surprise. “Baluardi” (bulwarks) also have their forts, buildings where lived soldiers to protect walls. Every bulwark was headed by a Commissioner, who led three bombers, who took care of the artillery operation, and a variable number from 17 to 26 soldiers.
Once again, military engineers well planned everything and organized a defensive system that still surprises all those who know where to look. We invite you to visit riding our bikes in the Day-Tour dedicated to the wonderful Walls ! What are you waiting for?