Several guided walks to help us learn more about our lovely villages have been organised over the next few weeks.
The first one is tomorrow in Vico Pancellorum. Call 0583 809945 to see if there some places left. Only 10 people at a time can join. The group will gather in front of Circolo dei Forestieri at 9.00am before being taken to the destination.
This is a great initiative. I hope the walks will be well patronised.
Be sure to call for more information or to book a place.
Excellent news! Our beautiful pool in Bagni di Lucca opens for the season Saturday 4th July from 9.00am until 19.00. Call 339 2376523 for more information.
This pool is surely in the most stunning position…an excellent asset for Bagni di Lucca.
As well as this good news, free Wifi is now available in many areas in La Villa.
The excellent shop in Ponte a Serraglio that sells a wonderful selection of second hand household items is open on Saturdays and Sundays…10.00 – 12.00 and 15.00 – 18.00.
Anyone setting up house in the area would to well to drop in and see the beautiful items they have for sale at excellent prices. An added benefit is that the profits are used to help people in need.
There simply must be something you need in this collection.
The clothing section of the shop is not open yet, but will happen in the future. 
Auser Is on the road between Ponte a Serraglio and La Villa, not far from Ristorante da Bruno. The Auser Association runs the shop and takes its name from an old name for the Serchio river.
We are very excited at Ponte a Serraglio to see the opening of La Corona, the newly renovated hotel and restaurant. 
Perhaps the name is a little unfortunate right now, but the up side it is easy to remember.
We arrived just as heavy rain began. This was a pity as the outside areas of the hotel are lovely. I will show you those on a better day. We gathered in the brand new bar area.
There was delightful entertainment.
We were taken up to the first floor to see some of the rooms of the hotel. There are 15 rooms and they look great. Each room is decorated individually, with well appointed bathrooms. Several rooms have views over the river, with great views and a couple have their own balcony.
My good friend Tina and I were the first guests in the beautiful restaurant.
The food was excellent. We began with a selection of Tuscan delights.
We both chose the risotto.
Tina had pork belly with crustaceans.
I enjoyed the guinea fowl on a bed of chestnut bread.
La Corona is an excellent addition to Ponte a Seraglio. I wish everyone involved the best and hope they get lots of visitors soon.
There was huge storm last night which began while we were at the restaurant. It settled a bit, but in the middle of the night I was woken by the noise of the river rushing past my window. The water was as high and as turbulent as I have ever seen it. This morning the river had settled a lot, but it was still brown and flowing quickly under the bridge.
Unfortunately the forecast is for another week of stormy weather. I hope the weather bureau is wrong on this.
La Corona…Ponte a Serraglio.
The fun for the student participants, their teachers and parents began around 2.00pm on Sunday across the Ponte Catene.
Everyone gathered in the square with great excitement. The theme of this year’s carneval was the Olympics. It was interesting to see the different interpretations.
Soon the officicials opened proceedings.
And the band began to play.
The procession made its way across the bridge.
It worked its way down the main street.
They gathered in the piazza waiting for the performances to begin.
The infants’ school from Fornoli presented their show, the race between the hares and the tortoises.
The next group performed.
It was the infants’ school from San Cassiano.
The students from Borgo a Mozzano came next. We wondered what the blue fabric was for. We soon found out it was the stream for the canoe team.
Then came the swimmers.
…and the equestrian team.
The fencing team fought with flowers…an excellent idea.
The cycle team really enjoyed themselves.
Corsagna school followed with an Ancient Greek view of the Olympics.
The Fornoli entry was colourful.
The last group sang for us.
The judges retired to consider their choices for the prizes. They soon returned and the first announcement was for the third place which went to Fornoli school.
In second place was Corsagna.
The winners were the students from Borgo a Mozzano.
Top marks to everyone for the wonderful event. Students, teachers, parent and friends clearly spent many hours to present such a delightful spectacle and it was great fun for participants and spectators.
Thank you Marco Nicoli and the team for organising the event again.
Don’t forget the Carneval in Fornoli this weekend. It begins at 2.00pm on Sunday.
Babbo Natale will be making appearances in Bagni di Lucca soon.
Fornoli
Villa Web will be Babbo Natale central on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December.
Not to be missed is the Babbo Natale run.
This is the course of the run.
….and a party at Bar Italia.
Fun for everyone!
Because of the forecast for rain on Sunday 1st December the Presepe Vivente in Pieve di Monte di Villa is postponed until Sunday 8th December. Let’s hope the weather improves.
There is a lot happening in Bagni di Lucca over the next few weeks.
One not to be missed is the Presepe Vivente, Living Nativity.
Presepe in Montefegatesi.
At the Teatro Accademico for the next couple of months.
I wish I was in Bagni di Lucca to take part in these excellent events.
On Saturday at 4.00pm in the library in La Villa there will be a talk on the excavations in Lucchio, one of the villages of Bagni di Lucca.
Sunday in Fornoli a day of activities beginning at 9.00am.
Things to do on a probable wet weekend.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 