Up on the Roof, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Sunset from the rooftop of the villa where we are staying.

And the next morning, sunrise view to the north and west. (Panorama - click to view in full width).

Sunrise view to the south and west. (Panorama - click to view in full width). 

The Guinigi Tower (above) was built by the Guinigi family, wealthy merchants back in the 1300's who built their home/villa/mansion and the attached tower.  And yes, those are holm oak trees planted and growing on the top of the brick structure.  The holm oak (Quercus ilex) is known as a holly oak. Today, the city of Lucca owns and manages the property as a museum/tourist  attraction. I will have another post in the future covering my climb to the top and the view from there.

I don't quite know why looking at a jumble of rooftops in Italy seems so much more interesting than a jumble of rooftops at home in Massachusetts. Terracotta tiles, brick, stone, marble, stucco compared to asphalt shingles, flat black rubber, and vinyl siding - hmmm? - I guess I've answered my own question.