Bagni di Lucca’s tennis dynamo, Jasmine Paolini, has reached the womens’ singles 4th round at the Australian Open in Melbourne and is now playing in the doubles!
Well done and good luck!
Jasmine Paolini
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Category Archives: People
Well done volunteers
A wonderful group of volunteers has got together to renovate the tired railing along the river in Ponte a Serraglio. Money raised from two events at the casino earlier this year was used for materials. Now the volunteers have stepped in to do the work.
The old sign beside the bridge has also been cleaned.
Thank you to all the workers!
Medieval fun in Casabasciana
The “Siege of the Castle” in Casabasciana was a great success. The organisers and participants must be commended for putting on a fabulous event. The costumes, the flag throwing and archery were excellent and the lucky attendees had a fun day.
Here are some photos from the day, from the early preparation to the evening fun in the piazza.
Getting ready,
The drawbridge opened and the guests were welcomed in to enjoy the food and fun.
Congratulations to the organisers and participants, and thank you Erica Jarman from Sapori e Saperi for sharing the photos.
Farewell Tina
Our lovely friend Tina Birri has died. She was a huge part of our lives in Ponte a Serraglio. She was one of the first people I met when we arrived to set up our apartment 20 years ago.
She helped us navigate our new lives in Italy and we would have been lost without her advice. She guided us through official things which are still a mystery all these years later.
She also helped me to learn Italian. I used to have dinner with her and her (now my) friend Rina each night at Marco’s restaurant. I used what little Italian I had as Rina doesn’t speak English. When I got stuck Tina finished my sentences for me.
Tina spoke English with a Bronx accent. She was born in New York. Her father died when she was young and her mother brought her to the family home in Ponte a Serraglio when she was 12. She told me many wonderful stories of her early life in Ponte.
A favourite story is of a relative who lived next door to her. He bought the first car in Ponte a Serraglio, a Fiat bambino. He used to drive it down to the bar in the piazza, a distance of about 50 metres. He had to show off his new vehicle.
She had lots of stories of the hard times after the war and how Bagni di Lucca became prosperous slowly. She told me of the businesses that flourished in the 60s and 70s and of the later decline. I am happy to have spent lots of time with her to learn about this lovely village and the people in it.
Tina liked to sit at Bar Italia and enjoy a limoncello or two. She had lots of friends there and was always ready for a chat.
She worked until very recently in an office that helped people sort out official difficulties, it is not only foreigners who struggle. She loved her job and it gave her a good reason to get out and about.
She died after a fairly short illness and I am happy that she was able to get home briefly between hospital stays. I was able to visit her every day and continue our chats. I was looking forward to seeing her when I return in October. Sadly, it is not to be.
Ponte a Serraglio won’t be the same without Tina. Bar Italia won’t be the same without her. It is the end of an era.
Below is a photo taken many years ago when Tina’s hair was still red. We are at Marco’s restaurant.
If I was in Ponte a Serraglio right now I would raise a glass of limoncello to my friend Tina.
Pieve di Monte di Villa records
Ann Barsi and a wonderful group of people have got together to digitise the records of the Church of Pieve di Monte di Villa.
This is the first step in a multi-year project that will culminate in family trees for all of the families in the parish going back to the 1500s. If you have ancestors from the parish, and would like to follow the progress, contact Ann to be put on her email list….abarsi@verizon.net
Other parishes already completed are Pieve di Controne and Monte di Villa. There is an Italian/English book available for Pieve di Controne (€25) edited by Ann.
An English booklet compiled by Graham Bracci for the Parish of Monte di Villa is available for €7.50 (€25 if a family tree with your ancestors is possible).
All proceeds go to the respective parishes for much needed repairs and restoration. This year, it is exciting to note, that the money from book sales at Pieve di Controne was used to purchase a new small organ for the parish.
For more information contact Ann at abarsi@verizon.net.
An excellent new driving service in Bagni di Lucca
Paolo Citti was the first person I met in Bagni di Lucca. He met me at Fornoli station 20 years ago. My wallet had been stolen at the train station in Rome. Fortunately I had just bought my ticket to Bagni di Lucca.
I arrived at the station in Fornoli not knowing how I was going to get to my accommodation, which was Paolo’s apartment above his bar. I walked out of the station and saw a tall, handsome young man standing beside his car. He walked across to me and asked “Are you Debra?” I replied “Yes”. “I am Paolo” he said. We have been friends ever since.
I was his first customer all those years ago and now his has established a professional driving service to his long list of accomplishments. He still has his wonderful Cafe Catene, but he was looking for something extra. He loves Bagni di Lucca and he loves to share it so this is a perfect combination, for him and his lucky customers.
He does airport pickups and he will take you where you want to go. He knows the area like the back of his hand and loves to share his knowledge. He speaks English well. He looks a bit serious in the photo below, but he is good fun.
I think this service is needed in Bagni di Lucca and I can’t think of a better person than Paolo to do it. I wish him luck in his new venture.
Contact Paolo for more information.
Email…luccadrivers@gmail.com
Phone…(39) 3924437080
Instagram…luccadrivers.ncc
Facebook…LUCCA DRIVERS NCC
Catene Cafe is 10 years old
Time flies! Paolo Citti’s excellent cafe in Fornoli is 10 years old. There was a party last night to celebrate.
Lots of people gathered to celebrate. Well done Paolo and the team. Let’s hope there are lots more years to come.
A book to read
I recently given a wonderful book to read by the author, Dawn Cumming, who lives in Granaiola. Dawn is an art historian specialising in Italian Renaissance Art. She divides her time between Bagni di Lucca and the UK. She has a passion for Tuscany, particularly its art and culture.
Her book is called In Search of Annalena. A Life of Tragedy and Triumph in Renaissance Florence, published in October 2020. It follows the life of Annalena, born in the time of the Medici. Her story is set in Florence where she marries, becomes a young widow and establishes a convent. Part of the building still exists.
I loved the book! I felt that I was with Annalena in Florence, walking the streets she walked, seeing the buildings she saw and getting a feeling of life in Renaissance Florence.
In Search of Annalena is exquisitely researched. Dawn’s love of Florence is clear. I look forward to my next trip to Florence so that I can visit Casa di Annalena and find the other places that were important in her life. She was a remarkable woman with a fascinating life.
The book is available through http://troubadour.co.uk, http://Amazon.co.uk
For further information about the author http://www.tuscanyathome.co.uk
Build a wall
I have been asked a few times recently if I can recommend someone who can build stone walls. I can confidently suggest Gazmir Ulqini who lives in Fornoli.
Gazmir and his workers did a wonderful job building walls for us at our mountain house. Here they are not long after they were built.
They are wearing well. This is what they looked like last summer.
They also made us a barbecue built onto the walls of the old house we had to pull down because it was too far gone to repair.
He builds other things besides walls. He is easy to work with, comes when he says he will and works quickly…what more could you wish for?
Gazmir Ulqini…349 3158495
Sewing circle
I was invited recently to visit a sewing group in Casabasciana. My friend Erica belongs to the group. Members meet roughly once a week to sew together. Luciana leads the group. She has had many years experience as a professional seamstress with tailors who worked for high end brands and later with a dance company making exquisite costumes. How wonderful that she loves to share her knowledge and experience!
Luciana is the one in the pretty floral dress. The group is fluid, people come and go.
I was fascinated to see an old Pfaff sewing machine. I thought it must be about the same vintage as my beloved Bernina that I have been sewing on for almost 60 years.
I was proved to be correct when the original docket was produced from the purchase…1962.
Each person works on their own items on various machines and help each other with their work. I think this is an excellent idea, those with experience can help people learning to sew and it is nice to work in a friendly group. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon in the company of others doing something you enjoy.
Luciana has an interesting way of cutting out a garment. The paper pattern is secured in place with an old iron and chalk is used to outline the pattern, then the garment is cut.
She showed me some of the costumes she has made over the years. She has quite a collection.
The group has a few pretty skirts to sell to a dance or school group who might need some costumes. If anyone is interested they can call Luciana on 348 3627426
Thank you for inviting me to see the sewing group. Perhaps it will inspire others to form a group of their own.
Not everyone will have an amazing view from their sewing room like this one in Casabasciana.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 