After a lovely evening with friends in Benabbio I was delighted to see a beautiful sunset. I walked from the top of Benabbio to the lower car park. It was quite late, 9.45pm, and I caught the last rays of sunlight disappearing below the mountains.
It is easy to see why people live in these gorgeous mountain villages. The views are incredible at any time of the day and in every season.
To help celebrate the beginning of summer there was a market in La Villa. Rosi was there with her camera to share the event with us.
A good crowd gathered to enjoy wandering through the many stalls.
There will be another market on 24th August.
On Saturday 27th June at 8.30pm there will be a procession in Pieve di Monti di Villa to celebrate their patron saint St. John the Baptist. There will be food and dancing to follow…thank you Francis from London to Longoio and Beyond for reminding us.
I am now back home in Brisbane for a while. I was unable to attend the crossbow event on Sunday in Bagni di Lucca, but our friend Sheila was there and took some great photos for us.
The competion was held in the Contessa Casalini Park this year and the balestrieri dressed up in their best for a great day of crossbow. Here is some of the fun.
Francis from London to Longoio and Beyond has more on the day.
We are now heading back home to Brisbane for a few months to enjoy our lovely winter.
It it is always difficult to leave Bagni di Lucca, especially now when it is looking so beautiful.
The Tiglio trees have their blossoms and walking under one is a delight, the smell is heavenly. Don’t park you car under one however, they leave a sticky mess.
Our petunias are looking great.
Tina’s roses are flourishing.
My window boxes are doing well.
Big white magnolias are everywhere.
The geraniums on the bridge are growing slowly.
There are early morning fishermen in the river.
I have a couple of helpers this year to keep me up to date on happenings in Bagni di Lucca and I have lots of photos to share with you while I am away.
If any of you are passing the flowers on the bridge or the hanging pots, stick your finger in the dirt and if it is dry grab a water bottle, fill it up (there is a tap beside Bar Italia, or the tap at Cova, near the walking bridge) and water the plants…they will love you for it.
I love the archery completion held each year in Bagni di Lucca. The competitors dress in medieval costume and fire up their crossbows for a day of competition and fun. It is great to watch.
This year it will be held in Contessa Casalini Park in La Villa, Bagni di Lucca, instead of Villa Ada. I really liked it in the gorgeous grounds of Villa Ada, but it will be more accessible in the park in the centre of town.
Here are some photos from previous years.
I am sorry I won’t be here this year to see it, but you should all make sure you are there.
The beautiful public pool in La Villa is open for summer.
See here for a previous post about the pool, with more photos and information. The phone number for the pool is 0583 86254.
On Saturday evening La Rondine in Ponte a Serraglio introduced a new exhibition in the gallery. Photographer Richard Smukler is now showing his work.
Our illustrious mayor opened the proceedings and introduced the artist.
Lots of people attended to admire the work.
There was music.
Francis recited a poem.
Midway during the evening we enjoyed a procession along the street.
…and back again.
It was a great evening, the first of many for the summer season. There is always something happening at Ponte a Serraglio.
Thanks to some friends we discovered a wonderful restaurant at nearby Piano Di Giovano called Cappuccetto Rosso.
The restaurant is stylish and pretty and the menu very interesting. The food is a little more expensive than most in the area, but it is excellent and well worth the extra money.
For antipasti we shared a plate of delicious prosciutto and a selection of very well chosen cheeses with tasty accompaniments.
We had already chosen dessert, so missed primi piatti, which are charmingly called Early Earth and Early Sea. Here are our scrumptious main courses. Soft lighting doesn’t always make for the best photos, a couple are a bit fuzzy.
For dolce we chose chocolate mousse with pear, and mint parfait with chocolate sauce…both excellent.
Cappuccetto Rosso means Red Riding Hood…we will be back often.
Via di Salita 4/6 (Behind Quadrifoglio)
Localita Piano di Gioviano (Borgo a Mozzano)
(39) 338 2426295
Jane Parkinson from Tuscany Arts and Healing is organising a Yoga Retreat Day at the beautiful I Romiti del Torrente in Fabbriche di Vallico on Saturday 13th June. The day begins at 10.00am and the programme ends at 5.00pm.
The experienced instructor, Joann Connington, will help you to enjoy a restorative day of Hatha Yoga. The cost for the day is €75, which includes the yoga, lunch and all refreshments.
I Romiti del Torrente is a 13th century Augustinian Monastery in a beautiful setting.
Anyone interested in taking part should contact Jane at…tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com
Or call (39) 3453140844
Bella Bagni di Lucca 