This weekend in La Villa will be full of people enjoying the Festa dello Sport.
There will be something for everyone.
A fun event this weekend
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Author Archives: Debra Kolkka
An opportunity?
A restaurant has closed in Ponte a Serraglio. Ristorante da Vinicio had been around for ages. When we first came 14 years ago it was busy every night. Here is a photo from back then.
In summer there were tables along the river, giving the little piazza a lovely festive atmosphere.
A death in the family and a serious illness have brought on the closure of the business. It will be missed this summer.
We need a restaurant at Ponte a Serraglio. Bruno’s is great, but one is not enough, particularly in the summer.
I don’t know any details about buying or renting the space, I just know that it needs a new family to take over…anyone out there?
White blossoms
Acacia trees are in full bloom and right now are covering the hills around Bagni di Lucca.
Bees love the flowers and they make delicious honey.
The flowers are edible. You can dip them in a light batter and fry them. I haven’t tried that but I have eaten one straight from the tree and it tasted a bit like raw peas.
I love the flowers and the smell is heavenly, but they make me sneeze.
i know they are a pest and it is a pity the hillsides are not covered with chestnut, hazelnut, walnut and cherry trees. If you look at old photos of Bagni di Lucca you will see that the hillsides were terraced. Grapevines and vegetables were grown, so the chestnut trees are long gone. The farms were abandoned and acacia grows more quickly than more useful trees, so we are now left with acacia. They are beautiful, but they are a menace…any takers for removing them to start a replanting process?
The start of a lovely day?
This was the view up and down the river early this morning.
It looked as though it would be a gorgeous day, but moments later the mist rolled in and the sun disappeared.
I have just planted the geraniums on the bridge…some sun please!
Shady trees
The lovely Tiglio trees provide a canopy for the street market in Fornoli today.
Now we just need some sun.
Then and now…Hotel de Russie
Thus wonderful old building was once the grand Hotel de Russie. It was designed by Giuseppe Pardini.
Now the building has 6 apartments. I love the balconies on the front.
Late snow
We have had mixed weather for the last few days. Today was glorious with blue sky and light wind, but there has been heavy rain, fierce wind, hail and snow on the mountains.
The snow melted quickly in the warm sun, but it was pretty while it lasted.
