I love the way tiglio trees create tunnels along the roads in Bagni di Lucca.
The leaves are appearing on the lovely trees in Fornoli…such a pretty time of year.
Tiglio tunnels
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Don’t forget Verde Mura
Friday 31st March is the first day of the Verde Mura, the wonderful garden event held every year on the wall of Lucca.
Here is a reminder of what to expect.
Friday 31st March…12.00 – 19.00
Saturday 1st April…9.30 – 19.00
Sunday 2nd April…9.30 – 19.00
Entry fee €6 for 1 day
€10 for 2 days
€15 for 3 days.
There is a reduced price of €3 for those over 65 and for children.
A wet day at Devil’s Bridge
I took this photo of the wonderful Ponte della Maddelena through the windscreen of the car. (I wasn’t driving).
It is a pity there isn’t a footpath on the road near the bridge. It could be done. A small foot path could be built beside the road, over the river. It would make a great viewing platform. I tried walking along the road once…never again!
Here are a few photos I have taken of the fabulous bridge over the years.
I took the photos below years ago with my first digital camera. It must have been 2004. The conditions were perfect.
Whatever the season the bridge looks great.
The bridge was decorated for the 150th anniversary if the unification of Italy.
The bridge always looks stunning. Fortunately it never changes…everything around it does.
A spring walk
The spring equinox is nigh
The last days of winter are upon us. Soon this winter landscape will change in Bagni di Lucca.
Hi 
Magnolias have bloomed and the flowers are falling. Soon the trees will be green.
Roll on spring.
Anyone fancy a burger?
We all love Italian food, but sometimes it is good to eat something else. Who doesn’t love a good hamburger? Eataly has opened a “Hamburgheria” in Via Fillungo in Lucca, and the hamburgers are great. You can have your burger cooked to your liking, rare, medium or well done, the bun is good and it is all well presented. (The chips could be better)
As you would expect from Eataly the cafe is very stylish.
They also have pastries and desserts…to be tried on another visit.
This is well worth a trip to Lucca.
Eataly…91A Via Fillungo, Lucca. It is in a courtyard off Via Fillungo, so you might need to look carefully to find it.
Womens’ Day Exhibition
This evening was the opening event for the exhibition of art and photography to celebrate Womens’ Day at the Casino in Ponte a Serraglio.
I went earlier in the day to take photos. It is always great to see the beautiful rooms of the casino.
In the main room is the collection of art.
he second room holds photos of women at work. The photos are both old and current…an excellent insight into the lives of women in Bagni di Lucca.
The evening was well attended.
The exhibition will be open each day this week from 5.00pm.
Womens’ day celebrations
The Casino in Ponte a Serraglio will be holding lots of events to celebrate Womens’ Day. The opening event is on Sunday 5th March at 5.00pm and the Casino will be open every day from 5.00pm until Sunday 12th March.
There will be music and art, food and conversations, make your own mandala…something for everyone. Please email Morena for more information morenaguarna@hotmail.com
A fun day in Fornoli
Fornoli put on a great show today for Carneval. It was a day for the children to take centre stage…with the help of their teachers and parents. 6 local school teams paraded in their costumes. The theme this year was food.
It was a glorious day. Winter sun shone down on the activities. All the participants gathered in the piazza on the Chifenti side of the Ponte della Catene. There were last minute details to attend to and friends to greet before the parade started. The band practised and the children lined up in their groups
Soon they were off for the short walk to Piazza Aldo Moro in Fornoli where the judging of the contestants took place.
It was too much for some.
The contestants were welcomed onto the stage for the judging
Eventually the winners were chosen. The children from Borgo a Mozzano came third.
San Cassiano took second place.
Fabbriche di Casabasciana won first prize to much cheering.
I think they were all winners. Clearly everyone put in a great effort to make the day a success. Congratulations to all.
A special thank you to Marco Nicoli for his hard work and commitment.
Everyone spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the food and craft stalls and other fun and games.
Then and now, Ponte delle Catene
Ponte delle Catene, the chain suspension bridge that connects Fornoli and Chifenti is now a pedestrian bridge. It was commissioned by Carlo Ludovico in 1840 after the original stone bridge dating from 1317 was washed away in a flood.
Here are some old photos.
Lorenzo Nottolini was the architect. He erected arches reminiscent of Roman Triumphal arches on either side of the river. The wooden roadway was destroyed by retreating Germans in WWII. It was replaced in 1950.
This is a photo of the bridge during the reconstruction. (Thank you to Alessandro for the correction)
Today the bridge is still impressive.
There are excellent views to be had from the bridge.
…just another of the treasures in Bagni di Lucca.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 