I am currently in Brisbane, Australia and we have experienced our first seriously hot days. The temperature has been around 35 degrees coupled with high humidity, an all night storm with rain, strong wind and incredibly loud thunder.
I missed the gorgeous autumn in Bagni di Lucca so I looked at some of the photos I took in past autumns.
I will miss the lovely cold winter days with the possibility of snow…I hope there will be some when I return in late February.
There are some interesting things coming up in Bagni di Lucca over the next couple of weeks.
A concert at the Casino to raise money for Auser, which helps a lot of people in the community.
Plant an olive tree.
The final street market for the year.
The heat of summer is behind us and the days are cooler, especially in the mornings and evenings. We have had rain and storms and I often wake up to mists rolling over the hills around Ponte a Serraglio.
The river is full of water after the low levels of summer. After heavy rain it turned brown with mud.
One morning I watched a fisherman hoping for a catch below my balcony.
Trees are beginning to change colour.
The magnolias on the bridge that didn’t do well over summer began to thrive once the weather cooled.
Bees and other insects love the flowers.
I hope the flowers last a bit longer.
All seasons are beautiful in Bagni di Lucca.
Mark and Katrina, new home owners in Bagni di Lucca, made a short return visit before the current restrictions and Mark was busy with his camera again. Here are the results.
Autumn is a beautiful time to drive to Montefegatesi,the highest of the Bagni di Lucca villages. The mountain road is lined with trees in full autumn colour right now.
Montefegatesi.
I went up further to Albereta.
The glorious colour will not last much longer. I am pleased I went for a drive before the recent lockdown.
Autumn is a great time to walk on the stunning wall that surrounds Lucca. The trees are losing their leaves quickly now. Soon the trees will be bare. Come for a walk…
This lovely old tree just outside the wall looks as though it is set for removal. It has been fenced off perhaps because there is a danger of falling branches.
I love walking through the tunnels and up the stairs onto the wall.
I was lucky to be there on a glorious autumn day.
Walking on the Lucca wall is wonderful in any season. Best of all Lucca is just 30 minutes from Bagni di Lucca.
The views of Montefegatesi are gorgeous in any season. Before I left Bagni di Lucca in November autumn colour was beginning to appear.
When I return early in the new year winter will be in full swing, bringing its own beauty.
The beautiful tiglio trees form a tunnel to drive through as you enter Fornoli and Bagni di Lucca. Before I left for Australia the last of the leaves were falling from the trees.
When I return early next year they will have taken on their stark winter appearance…also beautiful.
Autumn is a great time to take a drive to Abetone, the ski village 40 kilometres from Bagni di Lucca.
As you get close to Abetone the vegetation changes and autumn is in full swing. The photos were taken from a moving car, so some are a bit blurry.
In the centre of Abetone there are 2 stone pyramids erected to celebrate the opening of the Strada Regia Modenese, Modenese Royal Road.
On the Tuscan side of the road.
On the Modena side.
The road was begun in 1766 and was completed about 10 years later. It secured an important trade route, joining the territories of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Duchy Modena. It was financed jointly by Pietro Leopoldo and Francesco III.
From this position in the village it is possible the see some of the ski runs without snow.
The skiing in Abetone is great and the village comes alive when the snow falls, but it is very pretty right now. Take a drive and enjoy the autumn colour.
Autumn is a lovely time to be in Bagni di Lucca. The days are still warm and sunny and the mornings and evenings deliciously cool.
On clear, bright days the Lima River at Ponte a Serraglio looks stunning with the buildings reflected in the still water.
We have had some spectacular sunsets as well.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 