Don’t forget the amazing azalea festival this weekend in Borgo a Mozzano.
Azalea festival
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La Lira
La Lira is a cheap and cheerful restaurant in La Villa. They do a great pizza, pasta, excellent seafood, and other delicious things.
It is a popular place for groups to meet for a fun night.
La Lira is beside the car park in La Villa…you can’t miss it.
Marble beauty
In Villa Ada above La Villa there was a beautiful marble sculpture of a young woman. She is The Nymph of the Spas, carved from Carrara marble by Ferdinando Palla.
The villa is very run down. Windows have been broken and there was a danger that the sculpture would be damaged.
She has been moved to the ground floor of the comune building in La Villa, making her much safer and more accessible.
Drop in next time you pass by and take a look.
Knots of Memory: Tapestry as Art Form
Gallery
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Originally posted on From London to Longoio (and Lucca and Beyond) Part Two:
Tapestries have been used for hundreds of years to provide beautiful wall hangings and warm up the house too, especially in pre-central heating days. The greatest artists…
Travel Guide: Lisa eats Bagni Di Lucca and beyond
We had a great guest post from Kerry recently and yesterday she sent me a link to this post by Lisa, who visited Bagni di Lucca last month. It is always interesting to hear how other people enjoy Bagni di Lucca. Please read Lisa’s post about her stay in our gorgeous village.
Bagni di Lucca and its surrounds is one of my favorite areas in Tuscany. Here the terrain is full of impossibly picturesque hilltop towns, wild valleys and most importantly top quality local produce.
Bagni di Lucca is a tiny spa town nestled in the Serchio Valley, approximately 25 kilometres from Lucca. The town has been famed since its Roman and Etruscan days for its thermal springs and during the French occupation became the summer residence of the court of Napoleon and his sister Elisa Baciocchi.
My favourite coffee spot in the area is Il Monaco Pasticceria in pretty Ponte a Serraglio, just down the road from the main town – La Villa. They may not speak much English here but they make a mean coffee. If it is after midday.order an espresso rather than a cappuccino (apparently it’s not Italian etiquette to order a cappuccino after 12pm). For under two…
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Ferragosto
15th August is Ferragosto in Italy. It is a public holiday all over the country.
The holiday dates back to the Emperor Augustus in 18 BC. The name comes from the Latin feriae Augusti, Augustus’s rest and was designed to link a few festivals and provide a period of rest after the harvest and agricultural tasks.
Many businesses close for August and most of the country is on holdiay. Beaches are packed with people on Ferragosto and it is probably the busiest day of the year on the roads…drive carefully.
Have a great day!
Bagni di Lucca cat does meerkat impersonation
We are cat sitting at the moment. Meet Tiggy May.
She has made herself at home and has decided that the view of the village from our window is fascinating. She spends hours watching the goings on from our couch.
Something happened which really appealed to her and she needed a higher vantage point.
The funny little thing stayed like this for quite some time, obviously enthralled by something, possibly birds flying past. How I wish she could talk so I could know what was going on in her little pussy head.
Saint Apollonia in Bagni di Lucca
Saint Apollonia is the patron saint of dentists, or those suffering with dental problems. She was a martyr who suffered in Alexandria during an uprising against the Christians. Part of her torture was having her teeth pulled out…..most unpleasant. She is always represented in art with pincers.
What has this got to do with Bagni di Lucca, I hear you ask. Yesterday I went to the inauguration of a new statue dedicated to the the saint, at the point where Ponte a Serraglio meets Fornoli in the tiny street named after her.
On the way to the statue.
It is in a very pretty area of the village with a road that leads from the main street up to the agriturismo Le Torre. The houses and gardens are beautifully kept.
Quite a crowd had gathered for the celebrations by the time I arrived.
The sculpture was hidden from view.
I think the priest was asking for fine weather.
The local children performed the task of removing the covering.
Everyone gathered for photos.
The mayor gave a little speech.
Then the artist, Amerigo Peruzzi, who lives opposite, told us about his work.
The priest blessed the statue.
A new baby slept through the procedings.
Then it was time for some delicious food….of course, we are in Italy.
I hope Saint Apollonia would appreciate what was done in her honour, particularly the eating side of the celebrations.
If you walk up to Le Torre, stop for a moment to take a look at Bagni di Lucca newest art work.
It is a lot of fun to be included in local celebrations. The Festa Della Colombina is on this Sunday 6th May at the Villa Fiori Park from 10.00am to 6.00pm. Colombina is the name of a bread baked in the shape of a dove. It was made in Bagni di Lucca in the 1800s in the local ovens and served at cafes.
As well as eating Colombina you can paint a statuette or browse through a little market. Come along and join the fun.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 