There is a beautiful, if somewhat neglected, building in Ponte a Serraglio. It was at one time the Hotel de Russie. The building was designed by Giuseppe Pardini and built in 1838. It is now apartments.
On the side of the building is a plaque stating that 13 partisans were held in the building during WWII when the building became Nazi headquarters.
The men were shot on 18th July 1944. There is a memorial in the cemetery in Ponte a Serraglio.
Behind the memorial is a narrow path. At the back of the memorial is another one.
I found these names on small plaques on the wall.
What a sad and lonely place it is, reflecting the misery and futility of war.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 
Those poor men, besides being brutally executed, were previously imprisoned and tortured in the building. I always get an eerie feeling when I go past it on my way to church. May they rest in peace.
It is difficult to believe that quiet little Bagni di Lucca was so involved in the war. There would be many people still alive who remember this.
But you know these men would have died with courage and with great strength, without the partisan movement the Allies would have had a much harder job, whilst I take into account what happened to them, I know that their courage, strength, belief and hatred of the Nazi would have been enough to see them through. These and others alike won the war and their bravery has not fallen on shallow ground. I am a medium and I am currently writing a book about a small cell of partisans that operated in the Apennines, and I am finding the pathway to completing this book extremely interesting. Please don’t feel eerie when you pass, feel thankful and proud of the part that these brave people played, because given the same task I am sure each and everyone of them would do the same again. cx
I just feel sorry that so many young lives were wasted. Who knows what they may have achieved if they had lived.
I know the memorial in Val fegana and will get a photo of it. I feel that everyone should know that civil war raged in Italy for several years Just as it’s raging now in Syria – a sad reflection of the world we live in.
An interesting viewpoint Francis. I am currently reading ‘The Italians’ by John Hooper, with an excellent chapter on the partisans in the North of Italy, with communists and fascists pitted against each other. Great read.
I have read that book and it is very good. Even better is the original “The Italians” by Luigi Barzini.
Thanks Debra, will check it out. And also ‘The dark heart of Italy’ by Tobias Jones.
I have read The Dark Heart of Italy also. It all helps to understand what makes the country tick. I have found Luigi’s book excellent in this regard.
Will order a copy today.
I remember walking by that beautiful building. When you think of what happened to Ponte a Serraglio during the war, it is wonderful that the building is still standing.
Next time you come, take the time to go to the cemetery. It is sad, but we should remember these people.
There were clearly a number of summary executions carried out by the germans against valiant and heroic Italian freedom fighters. There must be a lot of painful memories still lingering amongst the Italians. We who in our lives have never suffered as they did,
should remember the horrors that others who were less fortunate were forced to endure.
War is such a stupid waste of life, but it goes on and seems will always do so.
How very sad. Such brave men.
It was a terrible time for many people.
Once an allie (Hitler/Mussolini), than Italy was an ennemy of the German Army, better to say of the Nazies.
Who were the executers ? And who was helpfull to them ?
Nobody is punished, nor the Nazies, nor the local facistic people who were helpfull to them. That is a shame. After the Neurenberger Proces, on behalf of the USA, even Germany punished, after e lot of years, a few ,more a less forgotten, war criminals.
Italy should be in shame, also nowadays !
RA
No good comes of war, just a lot of misery and suffering.
It must have been difficult for the Italians to begin under the leadership of Mussolini and hence united with Germany, and then to take the opposite stand and defend their country as freedom fighters against Nazi Germany. Who could you trust?
I doubt that the Italian people wanted to be at war in the first place. It is a pity the leaders don’t just have a fight among themselves and leave the people out of it.
TOTALLY agree…what a scary time!
My uncle was captured by the Germans but managed to escape and hide for months and ‘made it’. Those that were captured with him were shot and in that cemetery. Lot’s of history Debra. Amazingly you are doing wonders to keep Bagni di Lucca on the map. Grazie.
Thank goodness your uncle escaped. The war affected many people around here. There is lots of evidence left behind of the horror that happened.
That’s very interesting Deb. The top floor apartment was recently for sale (it may still be?). We thought about it, but decided to look elsewhere, close to Bagni. I’m glad we did. Too much sadness there..
We almost bought the apartment in the middle floor. We are pleased we found the one we eventually bought beside the bridge.
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