David’s Doors

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

David Collins, engineer and project manager in Tuscany, has a passion for old doors. (He wrote the book reviewed in the previous post).

He tries to imagine how busy they must have been in a past life. He is fascinated by tell-tale signs like worn marble thresholds below the opening leaf of the door or perhaps two grooves in correspondence with the wheels of a cart below stable doors, or an old horse ring on the wall left untouched since before the war.

He has put together a short video of some of the photos he has collected over time.

Click here to see his lovely photos of wonderful old doors.

Autumn in San Cassiano

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

San Cassiano is a beautiful village at any time, but in autumn it is especially lovely. Photographer and resident Paul Anthony Davies has been out and about with his camera…with excellent results.

The cross below was blown down from the church in the high winds in March and is now making a statement on the ground.

The weather has been unseasonably warm in November, causing confusion with some of the bulbs, which have appeared at the wrong time.

Thank you Paul, for taking us on an autumn tour of San Cassiano.

The park in La Villa

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

The lovely park in La Villa was devastated earlier this year when a tornado ripped through it, tearing up several of the old trees. Some were hundreds of years old.

The mess has been cleaned up, but it looks a bit bare.

I have heard there have been fund raising efforts to collect money to help rehabilitate the park. I look forward to seeing the results. It will be great to see some new trees planted.

Click here, here and here to see the park after the tornado.

Then and now…monument to the fallen

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

Here is a photo of Il Monumento ai Caduti in La Villa in 1940.

…and now.

I like it with the trees.

Autumn in Lucchio

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

Lucky Catherine Keens has a house in Lucchio. She was there recently and took these gorgeous photos of the village.

Autumn is a beautiful time to be in Lucchio. Thank you Catherine for sharing it with us.

Chestnuts in Benabbio

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

I hope everyone will head up to Benabbio to enjoy some necci…chestnut pancakes.

Let’s hope for a fine, sunny 8th November.

Then and now…Hotel Corona

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

HOtel Corona is on the SS 12 del Brennero at the entrance to Ponte a Serraglio. Here it is in 1900.

…and 1902.

…and today…the fence has gone.

The hotel is still operating and we would love to see the restaurant reopen.

Pretty Ponte sky

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

I was up bright and early this morning…in time to see this lovely sky over Ponte a Serraglio.

The resident heron was up early looking for breakfast.

When I returned this evening the sky put on another good show.

…and the heron was looking for dinner.

I hope he caught something .

Night comes to La Villa

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

La Villa is the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca. It is the village most people think of as Bagni di Lucca, which is actually a collection of small villages scattered along the Lima River and in the mountains either side of it.

It is possible to see most of La Villa from a hill above.