Presepe Vivente

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

The Presepe Vivente, or Living Nativity was held this year in Monti di Villa. The whole village is involved and the residents all take their parts. Everyone dresses up and takes on a role from times past.

3 local photographers were on hand to record the wonderful event…a working peace of art and heritage.

David Bonaventuri is from Montefegstesi. Here are his terrific photos. I particularly love his portraits of the fabulous faces.

Paul Anthony Davies lives in San Cassiano and is clearly passionate about his subject.

Valerio Ceccarelli captured the spirit and the culmination of the event, complete with donkey, 3 wise men, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.

Thank you to all 3 photographers for allowing us to share the event.

For more photos of the Presepe Vivente see Bagni di Lucca and Beyond.

A little chapel

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

On the road into Ponte a Serraglio (SS Brennero) there is a little chapel…just in front of the parked silver car on the left.

I have driven and walked past it for years and have never noticed it until recently.

It is is reasonable condition.

It looks quite pretty from the front.

There is a semicircular seat in the front, a nice place to rest before visiting the chapel.

The interior is well kept.

Beside it is a ruin…a wall and a set of steps. I wonder what that was.

Does anyone know anything about the chapel?

Then and now…Elisa Baciocchi’s house

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

Elisa Baciocchi, Napoleon’s sister, liked to spend her summers in Bagni di Lucca, where the air was cooler and fresher than in Lucca.

She had the road from Lucca upgraded and built a house above La Villa in 1811.

It is still there and in quite good condition. I think it has been converted to apartments.

It is good to see one of the old buildings being looked after.

David’s Doors

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

David Collins, engineer and project manager in Tuscany, has a passion for old doors. (He wrote the book reviewed in the previous post).

He tries to imagine how busy they must have been in a past life. He is fascinated by tell-tale signs like worn marble thresholds below the opening leaf of the door or perhaps two grooves in correspondence with the wheels of a cart below stable doors, or an old horse ring on the wall left untouched since before the war.

He has put together a short video of some of the photos he has collected over time.

Click here to see his lovely photos of wonderful old doors.

A very useful book

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

David Collins has lived and worked in Tuscany for over 20 years. He has accumulated vast experience in design and project management. Combining this professional experience with his love of Tuscany and passion for old properties, David has successfully helped over 400 non-Italians to buy and restore throughout this region.

Now David has put some of his knowledge into a book.

He covers many of the things new comers want and need to know about acquiring a property in Italy.

I wish the book had been around when we came 12 years ago, knowing absolutely nothing about what was ahead of us.

To purchase Buying & Restoring in Tuscany email: editor@luccagrapevine.com

David’s website is www.ourtoscana.com

To buy the e-book click http://amzn.com/B0165TJWLM

Coming events

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

There are a few excellent events coming up in and around Bagni di Lucca.

I hope they will all be well attended.

Autumn in San Cassiano

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

San Cassiano is a beautiful village at any time, but in autumn it is especially lovely. Photographer and resident Paul Anthony Davies has been out and about with his camera…with excellent results.

The cross below was blown down from the church in the high winds in March and is now making a statement on the ground.

The weather has been unseasonably warm in November, causing confusion with some of the bulbs, which have appeared at the wrong time.

Thank you Paul, for taking us on an autumn tour of San Cassiano.

Above the clouds

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

My friends Rina and Alfredo drove up into the mountains above Montefegatesi.

They were above the clouds and took some photos to share with us.

I love the Bagni di Lucca mountains.

The park in La Villa

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

The lovely park in La Villa was devastated earlier this year when a tornado ripped through it, tearing up several of the old trees. Some were hundreds of years old.

The mess has been cleaned up, but it looks a bit bare.

I have heard there have been fund raising efforts to collect money to help rehabilitate the park. I look forward to seeing the results. It will be great to see some new trees planted.

Click here, here and here to see the park after the tornado.

Then and now…monument to the fallen

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Debra Kolkka

Here is a photo of Il Monumento ai Caduti in La Villa in 1940.

…and now.

I like it with the trees.

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

Presepe Vivente

A little chapel

Then and now…Elisa Baciocchi’s house

David’s Doors

A very useful book

Coming events

Autumn in San Cassiano

Above the clouds

The park in La Villa

Then and now…monument to the fallen

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