Gorgeous Granaiola

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

On one of our rare sunny spring days I visited Granaiola to walk through the village and enjoy the spectacular views of Ponte a Serraglio and several other villages that make up Bagni di Lucca from the high vantage point.

Granaiola is a short drive from Ponte a Serraglio. The car park is at the top of the village…come for a walk with me through the narrow streets.

There is a fine selection of green doors.

I found a couple of renovators’ delights for you.

There is always a cat or two.

I ran into the delightful Stefano who lives alone in Granaiola since his beloved wife died three years ago. The photo I took didn’t turn out well, but here is one I took a couple of years ago at a celebration in Bagni di Lucca when he was wearing his spectacular Bersaglieri hat.

His companion is the lovely Stellina. I’m sure Stellina is a very pampered cat.

…now the views from Granaiola. You can see Lugliano on a mountain top nearby.

…and Colle below.

There are wonderful views of Ponte a Serraglio on either side of the Lima River.

Pieve di Monti di Villa and Monti di Villa are higher up.

Riolo is the village on the lower right.

The blue sky was amazing!

The Lazzi bus going to Monti di Villa will take you to Granaiola. They leave La Villa a couple of times a day. If you are reasonably fit you can walk to Granaiola from Ponte a Serraglio. It is much easier coming down.

Click here to see the previous post on Granaiola.

Can you help?

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

There was a small earthquake in Bagni di Lucca earlier this year. Fortunately nobody was hurt, but there was some structural damage to some of the ancient buildings in the area.

The 16th century church of Madonna della Neve in Guzzano suffered considerable internal damage.

The chapel was completed in 1537. In that year the pre-existing chapel was restored and enlarged to its current size and shape. Inside the chapel are notable works of art, including a statue of the Virgin with Child attributed to Della Robbia.

Claudio Gemignani of Gombereto is heading up an effort to raise funds in Italy to help save the church. Ann Barsi is looking after efforts in the USA where $5,000 has already been raised.

Ann Barsi’s book, “Pieve di Controne – 2012” will be sold at the Gombereto Medieval Festival on 31st August and all the proceeds will be donated to the restoration.

I hope you can all make it to the festival and buy a book to help the church.

Click here to see more on the book.

email Sig. Barsi at obarsi@verizon.net for more information on the fundraising efforts.

Breakfast beside the Lima river

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

I saw this gorgeous creature standing quietly and elegantly by the water at Ponte a Serraglio waiting for breakfast to pass by.

She was showing a complete lack of interest, but I’m sure if she had seen movement in the water she would have swooped quickly onto the unsuspecting fish.

After a while she moved away, perhaps she wasn’t hungry after all.

There is a heron nesting in a tree high above my house at Ponte a Serraglio. I wonder if it is this one. If so, she doesn’t have far to fly for breakfast.

Time for a change

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

The time has come to take the jaunty little pansies from the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio and replace them with geraniums for the summer. The pansies didn’t do very well this spring because of the constant rain, but they still managed to put on a good show.

Geraniums are wonderfully hardy and brighten up the bridge for the summer. Now that Wendy and Darren are taking care of them they are doing especially well. The flowers are tough, but they do like a bit of water and fertiliser occasionally.

We are very excited that Bagni di Lucca will host its very first Art Festival this summer.

It would be great if everyone put in an extra effort with their flowers this year…plant an extra pot of geraniums, or petunias, or roses…anything really. Nothing makes a place look prettier than flowers tumbling from every space. What a beautiful way to welcome visitors to the town.

The festival organisers would love some potted plants to decorate the newly renovated shops where the artists will have their studios along the street at Ponte a Serraglio. If you have a spare pot or some plants please email Jaqueline at artfestivalbagnidilucca@gmail.com. All donations will be gratefully received.

The shops are almost complete and looking teriffic. I will take some photos soon to show you what a marvelous job the volunteers have done.

How to build a stone wall quickly

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

There are lots of lovely old stone walls all over Bagni di Lucca. They were new walls once.

We have found a great way to build a stone wall….call these men.

We called them and they arrived the next day with stones, the doings for cement, equipment and enthusiasm. I have never seen a group of men work so hard or so well. In days we had walls.

Rain stopped play for a while, but soon they were back at work.

And our first wall appeared as if by magic.

One day it might blend in with the old one.

The long wall grew quickly.

Once they had finished the stone walls we decided we needed a wooden wall above the long stone wall.

Now the wooden wall is just about finished and we can start planting our lavender and rosemary…and geraniums, aquilegia, daisies, roses, wisteria…..

They also built us a great barbecue.

If you need a wall in Bagni di Lucca, or nearby, call these speedy wall builders.
Impresa Edile de Gazhir Ulqini…Murature in pietra. 3493158495

What a difference the sun makes

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

I think Ponte a Serraglio looks beautiful in any weather. I love the wet, misty days… they have their own beauty.

But when the sun shines Ponte a Serraglio comes to life. We have had far too many wet days this year. Spring is late coming, but there a finally signs that is on its way.

Canoeists and rafters are appearing in the river.

And there are flowers everywhere.

With a bit of luck our run of crummy weather is behind us and we can enjoy the delights of spring…better late than never.

Rock art at Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Someone has created a piece of rock art in the river bed at Ponte a Serraglio.

I wonder how long it will last…not very long if this rain keeps up and the river rises again.

…I didn’t have long to wait to find out. I wrote this post last night and this morning I woke up to see the river had risen. I looked out of my window and saw that the rocks were still standing, but by the time I grabbed my camera and ran outside it had been washed away. I’m glad I took photos.

Livizzano

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Livizzano is a quiet hamlet below San Cassiano. I took advantage of a rare sunny day to walk through the tiny village.

Of course the views from the village are gorgeous.

The church in San Cassiano looks over the village.

There are some pretty houses in Livizzano.

I found a few renovators’ delights for you.

There are some lovely old paths to be followed when the ground dries out after all the rain we have had.

I love the old tiled roofs.

House and garden decorations are many and varied.

The village cats were enjoying the sun.

Spring is just around the corner. In a couple of weeks these trees will be bright green with new leaves.

Benabbio

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

The road to Benabbio is one of the better mountain roads in the area. It is about 5 kilometres from La Villa to Benabbio, which sits about 480 metres above sea level. It is home to around 350 people.

I visited the town after a recent snow fall and found it looking very beautiful on a gorgeous winter day. Come for a walk around the village with me.

You can always find a cat in a warm sunny place.

Snow adds a gorgoeus touch to any view.

While I was in Benabbio I had lunch at the excellent Il Cavallino Bianco. I have eaten here a few times, click here to see the post I wrote about my lunch on a previous visit.

I still have to try the other restaurant in Benabbio…Acquolina in Bocca…next time.

Granaiola

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Lucky Granaiola sits in warm sunshine most of the time. It is 416 metres above sea level on top of a ridge. The 125 inhabitants get magnificent views of the valley below and the mountains around them.

This is my view of Granaiola from Ponte a Serraglio.

This is their view of Ponte a Serraglio.

The pretty village houses cling to the side of the hill. Come for a walk along the narrow streets.

Granaiola has a birds’ eye view of Colle.

…and across to Lugliano.

…and to Monti di Villa.

These photos were taken last year…time for another visit to Granaiola.

LOCAL INFORMATION

There is to be an exhibition at the Casino at Ponte a Serraglio… An Homage to Women….with 24 artists, including painters, sculptors and photographers.

The opening ceremony will be at 6.00pm Friday 8th March, followed by a harp recital by Anna-Livia and a buffet (€5 donation)

The exhibition will run from 8th – 15th March.
Saturday and Sunday….4.00 – 8.00pm
Monday – Friday….5.00 – 8.00pm

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

Category Archives: The villages of Bagni di Lucca