More events for Bagni di Lucca

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

Summer is a busy time in Bagni di Lucca. Here are some more events coming up.

Sunday 5th is a busy day with 2 events.

The inauguration of a photographic exhibition of immigtation stories will be at the Oratorio della Madonna del Rosario in Casabasciana. This is one I would love to see. The exhibition will be there until 19th August.

I love sbandieratori! I wish I could be in Brandeglio to see the flag throwers. Let’s hope it is a fine day on Sunday.

…and another in San Cassiano di Controne.

This is a list I found with lots of upcoming events…something for everyone.

This is a list of events in Casabasciana.

Outdoor cinema seems to be popular this summer. I’m sure these events will be well attended.

The pool opens

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

The beautiful pool in Bagni di Lucca was opened to much celebration. Thank you Rosi for taking photos and sharing the event with us.

It would not be an Italian celebration without food.

The pool is in the most magnificent setting with views across the mountains and has all the style of a 1950s movie. It is great that the renovations have enabled it to be open for at least some of the summer season.

Here are some more photos of the gorgeous pool taken by Elizabeth Nelson…a big fan of the pool.

Opening hours…9.00 – 19.00

Entrance fee…€8.00

After 15.30…€6.50

Phone…334 2171150

What’s happening in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

There is always something happening in Bagni di Lucca. It isn’t always easy to find out where and when they are happening.

Here are some events coming up.

There are outdoor movie nights in Cafaggio, Fornoli. The next one is on 26th July. The movie will be Wonder, with Julia Roberts.

Rifugio Fiori in Pieve di Monti di Villa is also having movie showings. Roman Holiday is showing 26th July.

There is a concert at Villa Web on 27th July.

There is a gastronomic walk in Montefegatesi on Sunday 5th August, beginning at 12.00.

Also in Montefegatesi, on Tuesday 14th August will be Apericena in the piazza in Montefegatesi at 7.00pm. Look on Facebook on the Montefegatesi Official Page for more information.

Best of all, the beautiful pool in La Villa should be open on 28th July for one month. It has been undergoing extensive renovations and will come back better than ever. It will close again at the end of August for more work.

This is an old photo. I look forward to seeing the new pool.

If you have an event coming up in Bagni di Lucca please email me at debrakolkka@gmail.com and I will put it on Bella Bagni di Lucca to help spread the word.

Rifugio Fiori

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

Rifugio Fiori in Pieve di Monti di Villa has new operators and things are looking good. We went for Sunday lunch shortly after they opened.

It was a little cool to sit outside.

So we found a spot in the cosy room.

The building used to be a school.

Antipasti was pasta fritta with prosciutto.

Our first course was pasta with ragu.

Next was delicious veal and fried vegetables.

There was an excellent chocolate cake and torta della nonna.

It is great to see that Rifugio Fiori is continuing to serve delicious meals. Pieve di Monte di Villa is lucky to have this great asset.

www.rifugiofiori.it

Phone…371 3916108

info@rifugiofiori.it

Yoga lessons at Bar Italia

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

The newly renovated Bar Italia in Ponte a Serraglio is now home to yoga lessons held by Heather Newmarch.

Heather is a qualified personal trainer, yoga instructor (Hatha and Ashtanga), qualified in sports nutrition and is a Reiki Master. She specialises in rehabilitation after injuries. She owned and ran a gym in the U.K. before moving to Bagni di Lucca. She enjoys helping people reach their health and fitness goals.

Heather says that yoga is great for flexibility, strength, stress relief and general wellbeing. She prefers to teach small groups to enable personal attention and to allow freedom of movement.

Yoga classes are held in the large room above the bar every Tuesday and Thursday at 9.00am and each session is one hour. Yoga mats are provided. All levels are catered for and beginners are welcome.

After classes people are welcome to stay on and socialise at the bar and enjoy a coffee or tea. I would certainly add one of Annalisa’s delicious pastries or sandwiches.

Please contact Heather at heather@newmarch.co if you wish to enquire about lessons. Each lesson costs €10.

Riolo, then and now

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

I love these old photos of the villages of Bagni di Lucca. Sometimes there are big changes, and sometimes not. Here is an old photo of the centre of Riolo.

The road in front of the house in the foreground has been widened to allow cars to get through.

The house now has a pergola in front covered in grape vines.

The path leading up from the piazza looks much the same.

The villages of Bagni di Lucca are all interesting, with their own character.

A new bar for Montefegatesi

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

It is always sad news when there are closures in the villages of Bagni di Lucca. The wonderful bar in Montefegatesi closed recently but the residents didn’t take long to fix the situation.

A bar is an important part of these small villages. It is not just a place to have coffee or an aperitivo, it is a place to meet friends, exchange news, have some fun and be part of a community. It is certainly where I met people who became friends and got to know about Bagni di Lucca life when I first came to the area 15 years ago.

The local Circolo in Montefegatesi has been renovated and now houses a brand new bar, which opened recently.

Top marks to the people of Montefegatesi for taking matters into their own hands and congratulations on the excellent new bar.

Thank you Lizzy Ashard for providing the photos of the new bar.

A day for artists

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

The annual art competition organised by Borgo degli Artisti will take place in Villa Fiori park on 8th July.

Artists need to be at Villa Fiori at 8.00am ready to start painting. Work must be finished by 4.00pm and the judging will be at 5.30pm.

Lunch will be held in the park at 12.30pm at a cost of €15. You will need to book for this.

There will be art lessons for children.

This is a fun day for everyone and there are generous prizes for winning artists.

For more information call Morena…320 1107330

Geraniums at Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

The geraniums on the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio are thriving this year.

I planted them last month and have been taking care of them. There has been some rain, which makes things easier.

I leave for Australia soon and won’t be back until autumn. Annalisa from Bar Italia has kindly offered to let us use her tap beside the bar to water the flowers on the bridge.

I will leave a watering can at the bar. It would be great if anyone interested in keeping the bridge looking good could help out with watering.

Thank you in advance.

WWII in Villa Fiori Park

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Debra Kolkka

I walked across the passerella in Ponte a Serraglio bright and early on Saturday morning to the Villa Fiori Park.

The park had been set up to resemble a military camp. Tents, supplies were already there and some vehicles, with more to come.

These are well kept vehicles.

The soldiers looked pretty good too.

I think being involved in a war would be wretched. I would like to think that occasionally in the misery, soldiers might have actually enjoyed a lovely spring day away from battle grounds in a green space like this. It is possible that they did, Bagni di Lucca was heavily involved in the fighting. There is still evidence of the Gothic Line, the most northerly of the defence lines built by the Germans, in the area.

This excellent display was organised by the Ass.ne Linea Gotica della Lucchesia.

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

Author Archives: Debra Kolkka