It is almost time for the next second hand market in La Villa.
The market will be held in the main street of La Villa this Sunday. There will be antiques, collectables and lots of great things.
Find a bargain
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Flowers and art in Lucca
The annual flower display in conjunction with the celebration for Saint Zita is on in Lucca right now.
As well as the display in front of the San Frediano church, the anfiteatro is full of gorgeous plants available for sale. It is a lovely time to be in the piazza.
The flowers will be in the anfiteatro until Friday this week.
Sculptures by artist Jimenez Deredia are being installed in various locations around Lucca. We found some beside the San Michele church and Piazza San Martino.
The art pieces will be on display until 10th September…plenty of time to find them.
Spring has arrived
Finally spring has arrived in Bagni di Lucca! Everything is turning green.
More spring photos to come.
Walking tracks
One of the things I am most asked for about Bagni di Lucca is information on walking trails in the area. The villages that make up Bagni di Lucca are beautiful and there are old mule trails between most of them.
The trails are reasonably well marked once you find them and it is great fun to walk between the villages. The forest is not too dense and the views can be spectacular.
I visited the Information Centre and found a couple of maps.
The orange lines represent roads. The orange broken lines are unsealed roads. The green lines are walking, mountain bike and horse trails and the broken green lines are waking tracks.
On this map the coloured lines represent walking trails, the double black lines are the roads and the broken black lines are unsealed roads.
You can find the originals at the Information Centre in La Villa. It is in Via Umberto I, not far from the Comune building. The young women who work there are very helpful.
Just what we need in Ponte a Serraglio
The new fruit and vegetable shop opened in Ponte a Serraglio and drew a huge crowd of well wishers…and buyers.
The shop has exceeded expectations. The space is tiny and it is overflowing with great food. There is much more than just fruit and vegetables, which look amazing.
There is also a deli counter filled with delights. It was a bit crowded so I couldn’t photograph much.
There are shelves stocked with handy items for convenient shopping.
There were refreshments, of course, and a huge cake.
A young family is behind this new venture. When things settle a bit I will have a chat with them and find out a bit more…along with the opening hours.
Verdemura, Lucca garden event
Verdemura, the annual garden show started today on the wall of Lucca. It is in a new spot near Porta San Donato and Porta Santa Anna.
There were not quite as many plants as last year. I think this cold spring has held back plant growth. There is still plenty to see and buy and it was a glorious day…perfect for some time on the wall.
Of course there is also food…cheese, salumi and a happy face.
Verdemura continues tomorrow and Sunday. Entry is €6.
An exciting addition to Ponte a Serraglio
A fruit and vegetable shop is about to open in Ponte a Serraglio, something we have needed for some time.
The shop will also sell bread and local products and will be beside Bar Italia.
The opening will be on 7th April. I’m sure everyone will support the new venture.
2 Garden events
Next week in Lucca the annual Verdemura will be held. It begins Friday 7th April and continues on Saturday and Sunday. It is in a new location this year, near Porta San Donato on the stunning wall of Lucca rather than Porta Santa Maria.
This is a great place to find fabulous things for your garden.
The following weekend will be the Azalea Festival at Borgo a Mozzano. The town will be decorated and there will be excellent plants for sale and much more.
With a bit of luck some glorious spring weather will accompany these 2 wonderful events.
Spring walk 2018
The annual spring walk around Bagni di Lucca will take place on Monday 2nd April. You can either walk 2, 4, 10, 18 or 20 kilometres, beginning in Fornoli. You can begin the walk between 7.30am and 8.30am.
This is a fun way to see a different side of Bagni di Lucca. Get a group of friends together and chose your walk. Refreshments are provided along the way and the tracks are well marked.
For more information phone 0583 87932 or 349 6953500
Welcome new Bar Italia
Bar Italia in Ponte a Serraglio opened this evening. A large crowd of well wishers gathered early and the brand new bar was soon full.
Annalisa was there to welcome everyone.
Her helpers were all there too.
Of course there was lots of food.
…and lots of people.
I am delighted that Bar Italia is open again. The piazza has been very quiet without it. I look across the piazza to the bar from my apartment and it has been very sad to see it closed.
We will be back bright and early tomorrow morning for our first breakfast at Bar Italia.
