Montefegatesi is the highest of the villages that make up Bagni di Lucca. I think it is also one of the most picturesque.
It is a stunning mountain village.
Beautiful Montefegatesi
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Mark 2 photos
Mark and Katrina, new home owners in Bagni di Lucca, made a short return visit before the current restrictions and Mark was busy with his camera again. Here are the results.
The road to Montefegatesi
Autumn is a beautiful time to drive to Montefegatesi,the highest of the Bagni di Lucca villages. The mountain road is lined with trees in full autumn colour right now.
Montefegatesi.
I went up further to Albereta.
The glorious colour will not last much longer. I am pleased I went for a drive before the recent lockdown.
A walk on the Lucca wall
Autumn is a great time to walk on the stunning wall that surrounds Lucca. The trees are losing their leaves quickly now. Soon the trees will be bare. Come for a walk…
This lovely old tree just outside the wall looks as though it is set for removal. It has been fenced off perhaps because there is a danger of falling branches.
I love walking through the tunnels and up the stairs onto the wall.
I was lucky to be there on a glorious autumn day.
Walking on the Lucca wall is wonderful in any season. Best of all Lucca is just 30 minutes from Bagni di Lucca.
Fornovolasco
Fornovolasco is a tiny village in the comune of Fabbriche di Vergemoli in the province of Lucca. It is one of many villages in the Garfagnana to be explored. It is 480 metres above sea level and has a population of fewer than 100people.
Two streams join in the village.
I crossed just past where they meet via a pretty bridge.
There is a delightful piazza on the other side of the bridge.
Several narrow streets take you through the village.
Across another bridge the streets climb steeply upwards.
Gardens are squeezed into small places.
I found a renovator’s delight waiting for a new roof.
The church was not open.
Back down the hill…
I found a tunnel leading to another group of houses.
The village restaurant, Rifugio la Buca, looks a bit like a Swiss chalet. It was not open the day I was there.
I walked back along the river to my car.
Every single village is different…there is always something interesting to see. Just past Fornovolasco you will find the Grotta del Vento.
Le Torre
Le Torre is an agriturismo above Fornoli. It looks wonderful in its lofty position and features in many photos.
There is accommodation at Le Torre…and a restaurant. We visited in late summer, just before the weather turned cool. There is a lovely terrace outside and great views.
The star of the show here is the antipasti. Be careful not to eat too much, as we did.
You need to leave room for the next course. The photos are a bit blurry, the light was fading.
I can’t show you dessert. We could not manage another course.
i look forward to a cosy dinner inside during winter.
Lupinaia in Garfagnana
I have now been in Italy for 8 months and because of flight cancellations and other Covid related issues it looks like I will be here for another 8 months, which gives me lots of time to explore.
The wonderful nearby region of Garfagnana is full of picturesque villages to explore. On a (rare) recent fine day I drove up to Lupinaia. The narrow turnoff to Fosciandora and Lupinaia is on the right, just before Castelnuovo when driving from Bagni di Lucca. I have been there before when I visited for the excellent chestnut festival, which won’t be happening this year.
I parked the car outside the village and walked up. The views across the Serchio valley are spectacular.
Lupinaia is ancient. It has been mentioned in manuscripts from the mid 700s. It is a tiny village…come for a walk with me.
A narrow street leads from the small piazza at the entrance of the village.
I passed a well designed wood stack, some red berries on a tree and a pretty garden.
I walked on towards the lovely green space where the people who live here can enjoy some gorgeous open space, with great views over the village.
I walked back and walked up the hill towards the church.
The church of San Pietro dates from 754AD and is mentioned in many medieval documents. There are treasures inside, but it was not open so I can’t take you in.
From the top, in front of the church the gorgeous valley can be seen below.
Along the way through Lupinaia I spotted some wonderful old doors. I am always curious about what is behind them.
There are several pretty decorations dotted through the village.
I don’t know how many people live in Lupinaia, but it is well cared for and obviously loved by those who do.
On the way down the mountain I saw another village…and more views, to be explored on another day.
Here is the post I wrote about the chestnut festival in Lupinaia. It is one of the best in the area.http://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/roasting-chestnuts-in-Lupinaia
I enjoyed looking back on the post. It was great to see Lupinaia full of people enjoying the chestnut festival on a gorgeous autumn day. I can’t believe it was 9 years ago. I miss these wonderful local festivals.
The fallen tree in Villa Fiori
I went to the car park in Villa Fiori almost in time to see the huge tree that fell a few weeks ago lifted off the roof. Heavy equipment has been moved in. I’m sorry I missed the man in the cherry picker attaching ropes to the tree for the lift off.
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Wouldn’t it be great to see someone buy Villa Fiori and bring it back to its former glory? Anyone out there???
It looks as if some of the other trees are being trimmed too.
Mark’s photos
It is interesting to see how newcomers to Bagni di Lucca see our lovely town. Mark and his wife Katrina have recently bought a property here and he has taken some excellent photos of Ponte a Serraglio and La Villa.
I hope Mark and Katrina enjoy their new lives in Bagni di Lucca. It is always great to welcome new people to the area.
Bridge flowers
This is the first year since we bought our apartment in Ponte a Serraglio in 2003 that I have been here for an entire summer. I usually go home to Australia to enjoy our wonderful sub tropical Brisbane winter. I am not a fan of hot weather, but Covid has changed many plans.
It is also the first year I have been here to look after the flowers I plant on the bridge in front of our apartment all summer. The plants are exposed to everything the weather can hit them with and they require quite a lot of watering, fertilising and general care. Because of the harsh conditions they don’t always do well. Even geraniums struggle to survive.
I planted geraniums and a bit later, marigolds, in late spring. The geraniums have not done well, but the marigolds have thrived. A few have recently dropped dead, but new seedlings are growing to replace them. They put on a very good show and there will be marigolds on the bridge next year.
The flowers on my balcony have finally come good after a slow start. These need watering almost daily to survive. I doubt I will plant them again even though they are very pretty.
The plant outside my bathroom window is the easiest to water. I can can reach them from my shower.
Since I will probably be here all winter I will be looking for something that will survive the cold.
