Salt and tobacco

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

I have seen these signs all over Italy.

But I had not really looked at them carefully. I read a blog by Zoe Boccabella, and she recently wrote about Tabacchi, the shops in Italy where you can buy cigarettes, bus tickets, lottery tickets, top up your phone cards and pay bills.

What I hadn’t realised was that they were, for a long time, the only places you could buy salt when it was a monopoly of the state. This is why the word salt…Sali…is included in the sign.

We have a Tabacchi in Ponte a Serraglio, but it has a new sign where the word salt doesn’t appear…pity really. Maybe the traditional signs are on the way out.

Voting for the Italy Magazine Blog Awards closes on 28th February. It appears that you can vote many times. I would love it if you would click here to vote for Bella Bagni di Lucca in the Best Single Art and Culture Post.

…and here to vote for the Best Single Travel Post.

The winners are announced on 3rd March. I will tell you the good, or bad news as soon as I know.

Faces at the Carnevale

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

On Sunday I wanted to be in 2 places at once. There was a mini Carnevale at Fornoli at the same time as the one in Viareggio. I went early to the one in Fornoli hoping to get some photos, but there was nothing happening so I unfortunately I have nothing to show you.

It was the last day time parade in Viareggio and it was a gorgeous day, so I headed off with a group of friends to join in the fun. I took hundreds of photos and have done a couple of posts. In this one I will concentrate on the people who dress up to take part, either as part of the exhibition or the enthusiastic audience. I love the way people get involved and make the event the exciting happening that it is.

Whole families go along to have fun. It is a great day…the result of huge amounts of work by many people. I’m sure next year is already being worked on. I hope I will be there to see it.

Go to Bagni di Lucca and Beyond to see more on the floats in the parade.

Bread and pizza

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

Just up the road (Via Letizia) from my apartment in Ponte a Serraglio is a small shop selling bread and pizza by the slice. I am ashamed to say that I hadn’t been there in my 10 years in Ponte. It was clear that I should remedy this and when some friends suggested I join them for a mortadella and beer evening there I quickly agreed. It was great fun and I have also been to a fish and chip evening…also excellent. Keep an ear to the ground for these enjoyable events.

The friendly owner makes delicious bread, biscuits, apple pies and pizza. I have now become a regular.

The shop is on the right as you go towards La Villa. There is lots of parking, but it is an easy walk from Ponte a Serraglio.

The Italy Magazine Blog Awards

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

I am delighted to tell you that Bella Bagni di Lucca has been shortlisted again this year for the Italy Magazine Blog Awards.

This is largely because lots of you took the time to nominate the blog, thank you very much.

Two blog posts have been shortlisted and now I would like to once again ask for your help. I would love it if you would vote for the posts. Bella Bagni di Lucca won a category last year and new readers came all year from Italy Magazine…more people who get to know about Bagni di Lucca.

An old tradition in Bagni di Lucca is shortlisted in the Best Single Art and Culture Single Post. Click here to vote for the post. Just click on the black area below the blog name.

Pinocchio Park is shortlisted in the Best Single Travel Post. Click here to vote for the post.

My other blog, Bagni di Lucca and Beyond, has also been shortlisted for a post called Massacre at Sant’Anna di Stazzema. Click here to vote for the post.

I have already mentioned the blog awards on Bagni di Lucca and Beyond, so if you have already seen this and have voted, thank you very much.

Voting closes on 27th February and the winners will be announced on 3rd March. I will be sure to let you know what happens.

The Gorgeous Garzoni Garden

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

In the nearby village of Collodi is the Garzoni Garden and Butterfly House. The garden was originally begun around 1652 by the Garzoni family when they converted an old castle into an impressive Baroque style 4 story house with belvedere tower and roof statues.

At the entrance is a delightful series of photos of past guests.

The garden was originally in the Italian style. In the 18th century it was embellished with the addition of terraces, balustrades, mazes, waterfalls, fountains, grottoes and statuary. It was designed by Ottavio Diodati. The garden’s reputation spread all over Europe and influenced many others.

There are some marvellous decorations.

A lovely feature of the garden is the Butterfly House. It is a fairly recent addition. The estate was sold by the Garzoni family in the 1920s. It passed through several owners in sequence and its existence became precarious. Thanks to the current owner in collaboration with the Fondazione Carlo Collodi and the Sviluppo Turistico Collodi Ltd, it gained back its former glory, and the butterfly house was added.

I braved the awful heat and humidity and wiped the steam from my camera lens to take photos of the flowers, birds and butterflies.

I visited the garden on a sunny autumn day. Garzoni Garden is open all year, but the Butterfly House closes in winter.

It is a relatively easy drive from Bagni di Lucca. Take the road to Benabbio and keep going down the other side of the mountain towards Collodi. There is a big car park outside Pinocchio Park and the gardens are a short walk from there.

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

Monthly Archives: February 2015