Category Archives: Things to see and do

Auser reopening

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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.

 

 

La Corona, a new opening

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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.

http://www.lacoronabdl.com

Carneval Fornoli 2020

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chestnut festival in Trassilico

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It is chestnut season! Chestnuts are ripening on the trees and chestnut festivals pop up in villages in the area.

On Sunday I visited Trassilico for their annual chestnut festival. I have developed a taste for necci, chestnut pancakes. I like mine filled with ricotta, but you can aslo have them with nutella.

Trassilico is not far from Bagni di Lucca. Drive to Gallicano at the beginning of the Garfagnana and follow the signs. The road up to Trassilico is narrow and winding, so take care.

There are some stunning chestnut forest surrounding Trassilico.

 

The town is perched on the side of the mountain.

 

The festival takes place is the little piazza just inside the entrance to the town. Chestnuts were roasting and the aroma was delicious.

 

I wandered a little in this well kept town.

The Rifugio was doing a roaring trade.

Through the gaps between the houses I spotted views of Vergemoli and I could see our Casa Debbio just outside the village. It was a cloudy day, so the photo is not clear.

I love these local festivals. It is good the see the small villages come alive and fill with enthusiastic visitors.

An afternoon of parrots

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I am happy to be back in Bagni di Lucca in lovely autumn. This afternoon I walked along the river in front of my apartment to the Villa Fiori park for a “Raduno dei pappagalli” …meeting of parrots.

 

 

 

 

The park has been lovely cleaned and looked after by a group of volunteers and it is a home for gnomes now.

This afternoon parrots were invited.

Australia was represented by a couple of sulphur crested cockatoos.

There were other parrots out for the afternoon.

There was a talk about parrots and a display by a shop with parrot accoutrements.

Of course there were refreshments.

It was a delightful afternoon which was well attended.

It is lovely to be back in Ponte a Serraglio.