Category Archives: seasons

Presepe Vivente Granaiola

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I would love to have been at the Presepe Vivente in Granaiola on the weekend. This event is one of the most delightful things to happen in Bagni di Lucca. The whole community gets involved, turning an ancient village into living theatre.

Local photographer David Bonaventuri took these amazing photos. Please look at his Facebook page for more and while you are there see the amazing photos he takes of our beautiful area.

Presepe Vivente

Presepe Vivente

Presepe Vivente

Presepe Vivente

My friend Paola managed to get her photo taken with baby Jesus, played wonderfully by Rafael Kniver.

Presepe Vivente

She took photos too.

I know the event was enjoyed by all who participated. I will have to stay on through December one year to see it for myself.

Live nativity

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This year the Living Nativity event will be held in Granaiola.

Living nativity

This is one of the highlights of the year in Bagni di Lucca. Here are a couple of photos from past events.

Living nativity

Living nativity

Be there on 3rd December if you can.

Bagni di Lucca lights up

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I wish I was around to see La Villa lit up for Christmas. Fortunately Valerio Ceccarelli was on hand to take some photos of the first night of the lights.

Christmas La Vila

Christmas La Villa

Christmas La Villa

Christmas La Villa

I hope it is a wonderful festive season for everyone.

Autumn in the park

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This is the last show of autumn colour in the park in La Villa. Heavy rain has washed away the autumn leaves and soon the trees will take on their winter look.

Park La Villa

Each season is beautiful in its own way.

First snow at Abetone

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The first snow of the season has fallen at Abetone.

Abetone snow

Abetone snow

Abetone snow

Abetone snow

Abetone snow

Abetone snow

Abetone snow

Abetone snow

Abetone snow

Let’s hope it will be a great ski season.

Tiglio in autumn

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I can’t get enough of the fabulous Tiglio tunnels on the way into Fornoli and Ponte a Serraglio. They look amazing in each season, but autumn is special.

Tiglio trees

Tiglio trees Tiglio trees

Tiglio trees

Tiglio trees

Tiglio trees

Tiglio trees

Tiglio trees

Tiglio trees

It is raining now and soon all the leaves will be gone.

Autumn delights

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Autumn is a wonderful time of the year in Bagni di Lucca. This year the weather has been glorious.

One of the best things about autumn is the delicious produce. There are chestnuts, cachi, pomegranates, clementines, pumpkins and porcini mushrooms.

Autumn

Autumn

Autumn

Autumn

Autumn

Make the most of these wonderful autumn treats!

Autumn

The other white flowers

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At around the same time, or just after the acacia flowers bloom, come the white or cream clusters of flowers on the sambuca trees.

The tree is also known as elder or elderberry. The flowers can be used to make cordial, syrup, liqueur or jam. The essence of the flowers is sometimes added to Sambuca, the Italian anise flavoured liqueur. They can also be cooked and eaten. The flowers are followed by black, blue black or red berries.

 

 

White blossoms

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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?

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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!