Cider by Chris

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

My friend Chris Buxton has a lovely little cottage in Colle, above Ponte a Serraglio.

This is Chris…I’ll let him tell you the cider story.

At a lovely late September barbecue, looking over an orchard teeming with fruit, missing my English pub and the real ales and ciders, I wondered what is done with all the apples…not much it seems…and no one makes or drinks cider…what a waste.

My friend, Super Mario, as I call him, found the owner, who said I could help myself to the apples. Others knocked on my door and Mario Morotti offered me the apples below his vineyard. If only I had known how steep and how far below!

It looked as though I had passed the point of no return. Thankfully some Ponte people offered their assistance and cider production was underway…with some extra help from Luna.

There was a bit of research, a bit of borrowing equipment from friends and neighbours and some advice from local wine makers.

…some supervision by Luna.

I won’t bore you with the details, but there’s not an awful lot more to do than get the juice from the apples and let nature take its course.

The end result? Some weak, some strong, some bottled clear and fizzy, some the way traditionalists like it, natural and cloudy.

It has been fun tasting it, sharing it…

…but alas it is not to everyone’s taste.

Thank you Chris for sharing your tale of cider. I hope there is some left when I get back to Bagni di Lucca.

The slow bells

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

Slow bells toll when someone dies in our village. The bells ring to announce the funeral and when the body is taken from the church for the last journey.

The bells rang slowly recently for Oriana, one of the lovely old ladies who lived in Ponte a Serraglio. I met her soon after I arrived in the village. She was always ready with a smile and a chat.

She was part of a group of oldish ladies who would gather in the morning for coffee and a good old chinwag. Several of them are still at the bar every day and there is a cheery “Buongiorno” for me. I haven’t seen Oriana for some time and it appears that she spent the last days of her life in hospital.

There used to be quite a large group of old gentlemen at the bar every morning where they would solve the problems of the world for a few hours, before strolling off home for lunch. This group has dwindled to two or three. I find it very sad to watch them grow old and then disappear one day.

I went to the church to farewell Oriana. She will be missed.

I think it is a lovely tribute to a treasured member of the community. The slow bells allow time to think about the life that has been lived, and recall happy memories.

Flowers everywhere

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

On All Souls’ Day, November 2, Italians take flowers to cemeteries to honour their deceased relatives. Florists do a roaring trade and cemeteries come alive with people.

Far from being a gloomy event, it is quite festive. People dress up and stroll around looking at the graves. Cemeteries look beautiful with colourful flowers decorating the tombs. Graves are generally well kept anyway, but this is special.

This is a lovely tradition. How nice to think that someone cared enough to keep your grave clean and tidy and bring flowers sometimes.

Mario Lena, a special Ponte person

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

Mario Lena, poet at Ponte a Serraglio and remarkable previous Mayor of Bagni di Lucca, recently celebrated entering his 90th year. Maura Bertolozzi and Agostino Rieter organised a marble plaque to be hand carved in Pietrasanta with one of Mario’s poems. It was installed at Il Monaco, where Mario likes to have his breakfast in the morning. Our current Mayor, Dr Massimo Betti, officiated the ceremony to unveil the plaque.

Mario Lena was a respected scientist and teacher as well as a very popular mayor for 10 years from 1960.

Friends of poetry and Mario gathered for the unveiling of the poem.

Take the time to read the poem next time you are at Il Monaco and say hello if you see him. He is a very friendly and delightful man.

A few days later a second plaque was unveiled at the edge of Agostino’s property, beside a seat, where visitors are invited to rest a while, enjoy the poem and the magnificent view of Mario’s favourite place, Bagni di Lucca.

Writers from Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland and Italy have been drawn to Bagni di Lucca for centuries…Byron, Shelley, the Barrett Brownings and many more have spent time in the beautiful villages, no doubt taking inspiration from their surroundings, just like Mario Lena.

Agostino has had the brilliant idea to establish a “Poetry Path” and connect 17 sites around Ponte a Serraglio, Bagni Caldi, Il Paretaio, Bagno alla Villa and La Villa where famous writers lived or visited. People will be invited to walk to the sites, admire the view and read about the writers.

A proposal has been put to the Foundatione Michel de Montaigne and if approval is given, anyone interested in helping to get the idea off the ground will be invited to get involved.

We are hoping the Mayor and the Council of the Comune will give full cooperation. I will keep you up to date with developments.

I think something that encourages locals and visitors alike to walk around the area and appreciate the spectacular scenery and learn something about our literary residents and visitors is a wonderful idea.

Hit the target at Villa Ada

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

Sunday morning saw a colourful collection of archers in the lovely grounds of Villa Ada in La Villa. The annual crossbow competition took place under the trees. The possibility of showers kept a few people away, but the competitors carried on regardless.

Once the first round of competition was finished the cannon sounded and everyone was off to lunch.

Later in the afternoon the fun began again in the grounds of Villa Web.

It is worth taking a walk around the area even when it is not full of wonderfully dressed characters.

From Via Evangelina Whipple go through the gates leading to the swimming pool. The road is shaded by beautiful old trees.

There are some stone steps beside the road that need exploring…next time.

Art at Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

Summer is almost with us and soon the Bagni di Lucca Art Festival will begin. Saturday evening saw an exhibition at La Rondine Gallery…just a taste of things to come.

It’s great to see people come out and join in the fun.

Take a look at Bagni di Lucca Art Festival for the programme.

Paolo is back

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

It is no secret that Paolo is one of my favourite Bagni di Luccans. We were all saddened and worried when we learned of his recent accident.

I can happily report that he is back at work and on the mend. His back brace will stay on a bit longer, and he looks a bit battered and bruised, but he should make a full recovery.

Drop in to Catene Cafe in Fornoli and wish him well…and have a coffee or one of his delicious gelati.

Welcome back Paolo.

Meet Guido from Nonsolovino

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

We have an excellent enoteca in La Villa. Nonsolovino sells a great selection of wine, both local and from other places in the world.

Guido, the delightful owner, has a wonderful knowledge of the wines he carries and will help you choose the right one for you.

There is lots to choose from.

Nonsolovino also carries delicious olive oil, jam, honey and other locally produced goodies.

Drop in and say hello to Guido and I’m sure you will leave with something delicious.

Don’t forget to go to Italy Magazine and take a look at the 2 posts about Bagni di Lucca that have made the shortlist in the Blog Awards.

Click here to go to the voting page. The posts are in the Best Single Living in Italy Post and Best Single Travel Post. It all helps to promote our lovely village.

Alighiero and friend

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

We have a delightful man at Ponte a Serraglio who takes care of the wild ducks on the river. Until recently we also had a white duck and a goose. The duck has been around as long as I have been coming to the village, but he died not long ago, leaving just the goose.

Fortunately he has Alighiero to make sure he is not lonely.

I hope you all have at least one good friend like Alighiero. Have a happy and healthy 2014…see you in Bagni di Lucca one day soon.

Ponte panettone

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Panettone is a sweet bread prepared all over Italy for Christmas. Making the bread is a lengthy process, with the dough taking days to cure. The bread contains candied orange, citron, lemon zest and raisins.

Luckily for us, making panettone is not necessary. Annalisa makes very delicious panettone at Il Monaco in Ponte a Serraglio.

You will have to be quick, there are only so many she can make.

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

Category Archives: People