Due Ponti is an excellent fashion shop in La Villa. It has been operating for over 50 years, a sure sign they are doing things well.
Meet Anna (right) and Elena who are there with great advice and assistance with your purchases.
The shop carries a good range of quality fashion for women.
Look for Due Ponti in La Villa at Via Umberto I, 20/22/23…near the post office. Say hello to Anna and Elena.
When I arrived in Ponte a Serraglio last week I was very disappointed to learn that the Barber Shop has closed.
I used to love watching the men lined up there every day for a chat and a haircut or shave.
I don’t know how long Valter had been there, providing what I thought was an essential service in the village, but I think it is quite a while.
He has retired to spend his time enjoying his other interests, including his art.
Apparently Valter tried to find someone to take over, but nobody was interested. In these times of under employment I am surprised and disappointed about this.
Valter, you will be missed.
Click here to see an earlier, and happier post about Valter.
Mario Lena is Bagni di Lucca’s very own poet. He was born in Bagni di Lucca in 1925 and came to poetry later in life. He trained as a scientist and was a mathematics teacher in Lucca.
He was mayor of Bagni di Lucca in the 1960s.
On Saturday 5th October there was an event at the Teatro Accademico to celebrate Signore Lena’s latest book of poetry and prose.
There was a large crowd at the theatre and Signore Lena was joined on the stage by several people who spoke at length about the poet and his work.
Signore Lena also spoke and recited several of his poems to a very enthusiastic audience.
I’m sure his latest book is going to be very popular.
Here is one of Mario Lena’s poems about Bagni di Lucca.
Le Cinque Finestre
Sopra le acque del Lima
le case.
Sopra le antiche case
le colline.
Sopra i rami delle colline
le nuvole dell’Appennino.
Sopra le nuvole
la gente
a reggere questo cielo
e la sua confortevole civilta.
The hills around Bagni di Lucca are very popular with cyclists. This little group took the time to wave to me on my balcony.
No self respecting Italian cyclist would leave home without the right clothing.
Bagni di Lucca has a long history of making figurines from Plaster of Paris, or gesso, as it is called here. The tradition began in the 13th century when people from Bagni di Lucca started going to France to sell their silk and they became intrigued by the use of Plaster of Paris to make mortuary masks.
They experimented with it, as the soft alabaster, one of the main ingredients to make that type of plaster, was abundant in the area. They realised it would be possible to make inexpensive religious statues by making moulds and filling them with plaster…much cheaper than the usual carved marble or stone.
The figurines became very popular, as not everybody could afford a Della Robbia, or other original for their home or church. Presepi, or nativity scenes were big sellers and salesmen from the area would travel far and wide selling their wares.
I was very lucky to be able to see one of the last producers of figurines in Bagni di Lucca, and the only one who still makes his statues by hand. Meet Simone from Arte Barsanti.
The business was started by Simone’s great-grandfather in 1900. At its peak there were 60 people employed. Now it is just Simone with some helpful advice from his uncle Carmelo.
The little factory is a treasure trove of figurines, moulds and paraphernalia from years of work.
Simone took us through the process of making a figurine. First the mould is prepared.
The plaster powder is mixed with water until it is the consistency of yoghurt.
Then is poured into the prepared mould and shaken to get out as many air bubbles as possible.
The statue is then left to cure for about 20 minutes. If the figurines are under 30cm high they are solid plaster. If they are bigger than that they are hollow to save on plaster and to make them less heavy.
Once out of the mould, the figurines are finished by hand to remove any rough patches and fill any small imperfections.
They are then fired in the wood fired oven room.
The next step is to hand paint each figurine. The flesh coloured parts are spray painted first.
The rest is painted with brushes of varying sizes.
We were taken to the top floor where there is a little museum with some of the history of the business.
There is a photo of a recent Pope receiving a Barsanti figurine.
…and some old presepi, including one in a pumpkin.
…some old accounting equipment.
Best of all was an old suitcase which the travelling salesmen would take around the country to display their wares.
There is a delightful story that when Christopher Columbus arrived in America the first person he saw was a fellow from Lucca with a suitcase full of presepi for him to choose from.
We were given a beautiful presepio to take with us…my first…thank you Simone and Carmelo for a wonderful visit.
I really hope this wonderful tradition can be kept alive in Bagni di Lucca.
info@artebarsanti.it
39 0583 87882
Sunday 2nd June was Italy’s Republic Day…and Corpus Christi.
The beautiful 12th century church…Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Pietro…in Corsena, was decorated with flowers and candles for the First Communion fo several local children.
It is an excellent opportunity to see some of the beautiful religious art in the church.
The chapel at the side of the church was open…a very rare occurence.
Families gathered for the celebration.
There was a little procession from the chapel to the church.
The ceremony went well.
A special day needs a special haircut.
I’m sure everyone who took part enjoyed their day.
For more on the ancient church, click here.
One of the things that people love to do when they come to Italy is to have cooking lessons with an Italian cook…with good reason. I was very lucky to be included in a lesson with the delightful Gabriella Lazzarini, organised by Heather Jarman of Sapori-e-Saperi.
The lesson took place in beautiful Casabasciana, so I went a litttle early to enjoy some late afternoon views of the mountains.
Gabriella had prepared a wonderful menu for us. We all put on our aprons and got ready. The first course was antipasti consisting of crostini con stracchino e salsiccia and crostini con fegatino di pollo…crostini withh soft cheese and sausage and chicken liver.
Primo piatto, first course, was delicious chestnut ravioli with a filling of ricotta and nettles, with a butter and sage sauce. We all got to play with the flour and make our own pasta.
Zuppa followed…a very special soup called garmugia. It is cooked only in May when the last of the winter artichokes combine with the spring fava beans, peas, asparagus and new onions.
Secondo piatto was faraona ripiena, stuffed guinea fowl, served with insalata mista.
Dolce was castagnaccio con ricotta, a crispy chestnut cake served with a delicious fresh ricotta which Heather brought directly from the cheese maker.
Gabriella is a lot of fun. She doesn’t speak English, which was all part of the fun and Heather was there to translate anything we couldn’t follow. The very best part of cooking lessons is that you can eat the results.
Gabriella will also prepare a meal for you to have at home. For lessons, or a delicious meal using the freshest local ingredients, contact Heather at info@sapori-e-saperi.com.
Lots of fun things have been happening in Bagni di Lucca for Christmas. I am in sunny Australia now, but luckily for us Morena from Borgo degli Artisti has been taking photos of events around town.
There has been a presepe exhibition at the Circolo dei Forestieri in La Villa. Bagni di Lucca has a history of making presepe…nativity scenes.
An old mould is on display to show how the statues are made.
A couple of wonderful old paintings are included in the exhibition.
A special presepe has been created by Fontanini, a local company still making presepe, and is in place on the balcony of Circolo dei Forestieri.
The exhibition will be on display for another couple of weeks…go upstairs at the Circolo dei Forestieri if you are in the area.
A wonderful event took place in the area in front of Circolo dei Forestieri with the making of an enormous necci. The fires were lit.
The giant pans were put in place.
The necci batter was spread on the pan.
The top of the pan was put on and heat applied.
Soon the necci was ready to eat.
I can’t tell you how much I wish I had been there for this. I love it when the whole community gets involved.
Paula Chesterman has been busy organising a choir and with the help of enthusiastic locals, an hour of hymns and readings from the bible took place the other night.
Mulled wine and mince pies were served afterwards…well deserved.
The choir will meet again in March. Click here for more information.
Morena has been busy with the children of the village with a workshop on elf making. The children then designed a ‘mailart’ envelope with stamp and letters were written to Santa. The best 5 envelopes will awarded on 5th January at the theatre in La Villa.
![4752_10151264678234691_725687526_n[1]-Elves](https://bellabagnidilucca.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/4752_10151264678234691_725687526_n1-elves.jpg?w=584 "Bagni di Lucca artists")
Thank you Morena for being roving reporter for the blog and sharing wonderful local activities with us.
Patrizia runs the wonderful fruit and vegetable shop in La Villa. She will select the best produce for you. Ask her for the perfect melon for lunch and she will find it. Which oranges are the best for juice…..she will tell you. Which peaches are ready to eat now…..she knows.
Look for her shop in the centre of La Villa, opposite the tiny piazza in Via Umberto1.
This group of handsome fellows gathered for a photograph on the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio 50 years ago.
In the back row from the left……Roberto Calistri, Aldo Berni, Umberto Lenzini, Liliano Saivetti and Benito
In the front….Vito Lorenzelli, Sandro Fazzi, Renzo Moschino and Amelio Bianchi.
Some are no longer with us, some have moved away…..but I found 2 handsome chaps still here.
On the left is Vito Lorenzelli and to his right is Roberto Calistri.
Vito happily showed me the original photo and gave me the names. I will need to be reminded of Benito’s cognome. Vito is now back in Scotland, where he lives for most of the year. I see Roberto regularly at the Ponte with his delightful granddaughter Agnese, my favourite little Ponte person.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 