Meet Guido from Nonsolovino

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

We have an excellent enoteca in La Villa. Nonsolovino sells a great selection of wine, both local and from other places in the world.

Guido, the delightful owner, has a wonderful knowledge of the wines he carries and will help you choose the right one for you.

There is lots to choose from.

Nonsolovino also carries delicious olive oil, jam, honey and other locally produced goodies.

Drop in and say hello to Guido and I’m sure you will leave with something delicious.

Don’t forget to go to Italy Magazine and take a look at the 2 posts about Bagni di Lucca that have made the shortlist in the Blog Awards.

Click here to go to the voting page. The posts are in the Best Single Living in Italy Post and Best Single Travel Post. It all helps to promote our lovely village.

Villa Fiori needs some love

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

Villa Fiori in Ponte a Serraglio was originally called Villa Pieri. The villa takes its present name from Baron Fiori who purchased it in the second half of the 19th century. The appearence of the building has changed several times.

Here is a photo before the most recent change of appearence.

The latest renovation was done by Paolinelli in 1916 – 1917 when it was owned by Jean Varraud, who ran the thermal baths at Bagni Caldi until 1968.

When I first came to Bagni di Lucca some of the statues of swimmers still stood beside the little pool in the garden.

The house now sits lonely and unloved beside the river. The little park near the house is cared for by the people of Borgo degli Artisti and there are regular events held there.

I particularly like the 4 towers in the park on the edge of the property.

Villa Fiori looks wonderful from above the village.

It would be great if someone came along and breathed new life into Villa Fiori…any takers?

Bagni di Lucca Art Festival 2014

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Debra Kolkka

The very first Bagni di Lucca Art Festival was held with great success in 2013. Ponte a Serraglio came alive with art exhibitions, performances and parties throughout the summer.

Jaqueline and Jake and their team of volutneers are to be congratulated. With a miniscule budget and a lot of hard work they produced something wonderful.

Old shops in Ponte a Serrraglio were renovated and filled with exciting exhibitions and activities. People came out to enjoy opening celebrations and be part of the first festival. The little piazza was full of artists, performers and fun.

A particular favourite of mine was the installation in the river, called Fragile Community by Sandro Del Pistoia.

Plans are well underway for the 2014 event. This year Jaqueline and Jake are hoping to encourage even more participation in the form of sponsorship (please) and people with ideas and the courage and energy to bring their ideas into fruition.

If you can help in any way…if you think you have a great idea for the festival and have the time to help make it happen…please come forward and let the organisers know.

This year’s event will be shorter and more concentrated and will hopefully spread to other villages in Bagni di Lucca. Jaqueline and Jake would like to include more ideas and people in 2014.

The Bagni di Lucca Art Festival has the potential to be a significant art event which will be excellent for the future of the town. A thriving art community in this beautiful setting would bring more people and provide more jobs for those living here.

The festival needs your help to spread the word…talk to your friends and neighbours about it…write about it on your blog or Facebook page…it would be great if the whole community of Bagni di Lucca was involved…if not as participants or helpers then as spectators.

Please email Jaqueline at artfestivalbagnidilucca@gmail.com if you have any suggestions to make a huge success of the 2014 event.

Look at artfestivalbagnidilucca.org for more information on the festival.

Click here, here, here, here, hereand here to see the posts on Bella Bagni di Lucca about the 2013 Art Festival.

Picking olives

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Olives grow all around Bagni di Lucca on terraces in the mountains. Autumn is the time to pick olives. It would be difficult to find a more beautiful setting for an afternoon of olive picking.

When we arrived the nets were being set beneath the trees.

We were shown how to pull the olives from the branches…a bit like milking a cow.

It is good fun picking olives…but I don’t have to do it for days on end. I may change my mind if I had to do it regularly, or I had to climb the trees to get at the top branches, or set the nets.

It is much easier to pick olives while standing on the ground.

…and look at the view.

The best part of this is the delicious new olive oil. It is best when fresh. Look for the new season olive oil now in your favourite deli or market.

Grapevine is 20 years old

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Grapevine magazine has been around for 20 years, helping people to find out what is happening in our area.

The first issue appeared in October 1994.

This is what was written in their first editorial.

“This is the first issue of GRAPEVINE, a monthly guide in English to what’s on in Lucca and the surrounding area. There is a lot going on in this area but finding out about it is not always easy and can depend on picking up a leaflet by chance in a hotel reception area or spotting a poster in town. Now the visitor to Lucca can find information collected together as never before.

GRAPEVINE is not just a list of events and activities. The articles reflect many different aspects of local life and news and are not limited just to items of traditional tourist interest.

We believe that a monthly of this kind, which looks at Lucca with a different eye from thatbof established local publications, will be of interest not only to people passing through this area but also to those who live here permanently.”

I have found the magazine very useful in the 10 years I have been coming to Bagni di Lucca, and still have most of the copies I have bought over the years. It is a great way to keep up with local activities.

Look out for the magazine in local newsagents and you can also sign up to read Grapevine on line.

Congratulations on the first 20 years…may there be many more.

www.luccagrapevine.com

Ponte delle Catene, Fornoli

Posted on November 16, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

The beautiful Ponte delle Catene in Fornoli was commissioned by the Duke of Lucca, Charles Louis de Bourbon, to replace an earlier bridge (built in the 1300s) which was washed away in a flood in 1836.

The chain suspension bridge crosses the Lima River from Fornoli to the little piazza in Chifenti. It is now a pedestrian bridge.

Architect Lorenzo Nottolini was sent to England to study suspension bridges there. The bridge was begun in 1844 and completed in 1860, making it one of the first suspension bridges in Italy.

The road section of the bridge was destroyed in WWII and was rebuilt in 1950.

It looks very majestic, especially in the early evening light.

The views from the bridge are spectacular.

…looking up river towards Ponte a Serraglio.

…looking down river towards Borgo a Mozzano.

To see another wonderful Lorenzo Nottolini structure click here.

While you are there admiring the bridge, call in for a coffee at Cafe Catene and say hello to Paolo.

Meet Anna and Elena from Due Ponti

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Due Ponti is an excellent fashion shop in La Villa. It has been operating for over 50 years, a sure sign they are doing things well.

Meet Anna (right) and Elena who are there with great advice and assistance with your purchases.

The shop carries a good range of quality fashion for women.

Look for Due Ponti in La Villa at Via Umberto I, 20/22/23…near the post office. Say hello to Anna and Elena.

A damp chestnut festival at Villa Fiori

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

The annual chestnut festival took place today, Sunday, at the lovely park beside Villa Fiori in Ponte a Serraglio.

The weather could have been better, but an enthusiastic crowd gathered to sample the roasted chestnuts, necci, castagnata and spiced wine.

Children decorated pumpkins under the excellent supervision of Morena from Borgo deli Artisti.

Lovely Rodolfa from Montefegatesi demonstrated spinning for us.

There was some delightful guitar music to help us enjoy the day.

Unfortunately rain stopped the celebrations a bit short…better luck next year.

A chestnut festival… with mushrooms

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

We recently attended the chestnut festival in Castelnuovo. It was a beautiful day and we were the first on the bus to take us from the town to the fortified area above the town where chestnuts were being roasted and crowds were beginning to gather.

We were eager to try the roasted chestnuts and the fritelle made from both regular flour and chestnut flour. A little bonus was the warm spiced wine that came with them.

Inside the main building was a display of local mushrooms, separated into edible, edible, but they taste awful and dangerous…don’t ever eat!

Here are some of the edible ones.

These may not hurt you, but they won’t be delicious.

Don’t pick and eat anything from the next group.

It was a great display. I would never be brave enough to gather mushrooms myself. I would only go with an expert, but it was really interesting to see the collection which had been put together with much care.

There was a sculpture display as well. This one left me feeling a bit twisted.

Don’t miss these local festivals. Each one is different and lot of fun.

A shoe shop in Castelnuovo

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Castelnuovo is the main town of the Garfagnana and an easy drive from Bagni di Lucca.
There is a wonderful old castle there…it was new once…I guess that is why the town is called Newcastle.