The beautiful public pool in La Villa is open for summer.
See here for a previous post about the pool, with more photos and information. The phone number for the pool is 0583 86254.
The pool is open for summer
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Category Archives: Things to see and do
Art and religion at Ponte a Serraglio
On Saturday evening La Rondine in Ponte a Serraglio introduced a new exhibition in the gallery. Photographer Richard Smukler is now showing his work.
Our illustrious mayor opened the proceedings and introduced the artist.
Lots of people attended to admire the work.
There was music.
Francis recited a poem.
Midway during the evening we enjoyed a procession along the street.
…and back again.
It was a great evening, the first of many for the summer season. There is always something happening at Ponte a Serraglio.
A day of yoga
Jane Parkinson from Tuscany Arts and Healing is organising a Yoga Retreat Day at the beautiful I Romiti del Torrente in Fabbriche di Vallico on Saturday 13th June. The day begins at 10.00am and the programme ends at 5.00pm.
The experienced instructor, Joann Connington, will help you to enjoy a restorative day of Hatha Yoga. The cost for the day is €75, which includes the yoga, lunch and all refreshments.
I Romiti del Torrente is a 13th century Augustinian Monastery in a beautiful setting.
Anyone interested in taking part should contact Jane at…tuscanyartsandhealing@gmail.com
Or call (39) 3453140844
Lunch and a spring walk from Rifugio Fiori
A while ago guest poster Belinda took us on a walk from Ponte a Serraglio to Pieve di Monti di Villa to lunch at Rifugio Fiori.
I’m not much interested in walking up steep hills, so I decided to do it in reverse. Three of us got a lift up to Pieve di Monti di Villa to the lunch spot. It was a gorgeous day, so we happily sat outside.
…just as well, it was crowded inside.
We ordered the mixed grill…very good….and the torta della Nonna.
We were advised to take the gentle track down to Ponte a Serraglio. We headed off up the road a bit and took the road down to the church. It is always good to walk through Pieve di Monti di Villa.
Beside the church we found the track towards Ponte a Serraglio.
It was a bit overgrown, but not too bad.
In many places there was a rock path lined with wild flowers and gorgeous spring flowering trees.
We passed some old gates. There must have been a sizeable house here once.
We also passed some dry stone walls, no doubt part of the same property.
We walked under a gorgeous oak tree.
We passed a stream and a little waterfall.
Some of the time we walked on the road because the path was too overgrown, but that was good too.
Soon we came to the crossroad where the road goes to Riolo.
We passed the overgrown church.
We wandered down past the old chairlift. I would love to see this operating.
Lots of people were enjoying themselves at Villagio Globale.
Just before we reached the river we passed a wall of wildflowers.
Finally we arrived at Ponte. If you want to do the uphill walk, look for this sign opposite the walking bridge.
If you are looking for a great walk, this could be the one for you. You walk under the cover of the forest most of the way, so it is not too hot. The downhill walk is easy and the views are gorgeous.
Click here to see the winter walk.
Mille Miglia comes to Ponte a Serraglio
It seems the Giro d’Italia has just whizzed past and another iconic road race came to Ponte a Serraglio. The beautiful Mille Miglia included Bagni di Lucca on its way to Parma for the night on the third leg of the race.
The weather was a bit ordinary for the beginning of the race, but there were plenty of spectators to welcome the cars through our little piazza. The first to arrive were the new, fast sports cars…Ferrari, Maserati and Mercedes Benz, etc.
Their engines roared as they sped off past the piazza through the narrow street up to La Villa.
The beautiful old cars were hot on their heels…to everyone’s delight. Here are just some of the gorgeous vintage vehicles.
Massimo joined in with his Lazzi bus.
The Caribinieri kept everyone in check. ( Except for the idiot who stopped their car in the narrow street, put their hazard lights on, left their doors wide open and unloaded their shopping.)
Our own Francis Pettitt was there in his wonderful old Fiat Cinquecento…not officially of course, he was on his way home to Longoio…but he got a big cheer anyway.
The weather did get better as the race went on and it was a beautiful evening in Ponte a Serraglio.
Things may seem a little quiet around here for a while.
Take a look at Bagni di Lucca and Beyond for more cars.
Giro d’Italia
The Giro d’Italia is a big event in Italy. There was great excitement in Bagni di Lucca today…the race came right through our villages.
My balcony provided an excellent vantage point to watch it all unfold. Our little piazza at Ponte a Serraglio was packed with people waving flags and waiting for the cyclists to appear.
Sponsors’ cars sped through first.
The first bikes appeared after endless official vehicles.
The crowds were waiting to cheer them on.
A little while later the bigger group of cyclists appeared along the river.
Here are some photos from the bar, thanks to Belinda.
A helicopter flew overhead to follow the proceedings.
More official vehicles brought up the rear.
…and it was all over. The whole event went through Ponte a Serraglio in a matter of minutes, but it was great fun and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
Go to Bagni di Lucca and Beyond for a bit more on the race.
Road work for a reason
Roads are being resurfaced all over Italy, including Bagni di Lucca.
…the reason? Giro d’Italia is about to happen. The 98th running of the road race will begin in San Lorenzo al Mare on May 9th and conclude in Milan on June 1st.
Most importantly, on May 13th the race will come through Bagni di Lucca on its way from La Spezia to Abetone, and it will go right past my balcony in Ponte a Serraglio.
Whether it will match the excitement of the race between Mao and Collodi is a matter for discussion.
Click here for more on this exciting sporting event.
A few days later the cars in the Mille Miglia will go by in the afternoon ( at 16.31 according to the programme) of 16th May on their way from Rome to Parma, on the third day of the race.
The magnificent Mille Miglia began in 1927. Beautiful old cars follow a beautiful route through Italy. I saw some of the cars in Florence a few years ago.
Just as well we had the balcony upgraded last year, there may be a few people gathered there soon.
Terme…thermal baths
Bagni di Lucca has been famous for its healing waters for centuries. There were a dozen operating spas at one time but most are no longer in use. Some have been restored and are waiting to open.
Jean Verraud spa at Bagni Caldi, above Ponte a Serraglio, is open for business as it has been for centuries.
Elisa Bacciocchi, when she was princess of Lucca in the early 1800s, liked to visit Bagni di Lucca to “take the waters”.
She built a new spa above the two natural steam grottoes and very little has changed since then. An extra wing has been added, but the rooms in the old building look just as they did back in Bagni di Lucca’s heyday.
Before the Casino at Ponte a Serraglio was built there were gambling rooms at the spa. Now they are used for events.
The small steam grotto was the personal steam grotto of Napoleon’s sister Pauline. It is big enough for just 2 or 3 people.
The larger grotto holds more people.
When you enter the steam area you are given a towel to wrap yourself in and you are lead to the grotto where you can sit for up to 20 minutes. Then you are taken upstairs to the quaint room with double vaulted ceilings where you lie in one of the beds wrapped in blankets to relax and come back to a normal temperature.
There is another room where you can rest before going on to other treatments if you wish.
It is fun to sit in the steam filled rooms and contemplate who might have been there before you.
Go to the Jean Verraud website for much more information.
Phone (39) 0583 87221
A night of music
Last night at the lovely Teatro Accademico there was a delightful evening of music. Songs by Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, Bizet, Rossini and others were performed by some very talented people.
The event was well attended.
The singers were…
Valentina Boi, a soprano with an exquisite voice.
Laura Brioli, mezzosoprano.
Angelo Fiore, tenor.
Franco Rossi, baritone, shown here delivering a rousing rendition of The Barber of Seville.
They were accompanied by Laura Pasqualetti on the piano.
It was a very enjoyable evening. If you missed it there will be another on 12th April. I will remind you at a later date.
Women at the casino
The Celebration of Women event at the casino in Ponte a Serraglio has been well attended. The opening night was a lot of fun. There were speeches by the organisers and the mayor.
Barbara from Granaiola sang for us beautifully.
There are lots of paintings and photographs to see, but my favourite part of the exhibition is the one put together by Gemma Fazzi and her team. This year it focuses on the bedroom and they have done a great job collecting things from times gone by to show us how people would have decorated their bedrooms.
There are still 3 nights to go for the exhibition….don’t miss it.
For more on the celebrations please go to Francis’ blog. Click here.
