Tag Archives: Bagni di Lucca

An opportunity?

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A restaurant has closed in Ponte a Serraglio. Ristorante da Vinicio had been around for ages. When we first came 14 years ago it was busy every night. Here is a photo from back then.

In summer there were tables along the river, giving the little piazza a lovely festive atmosphere.

A death in the family and a serious illness have brought on the closure of the business. It will be missed this summer.

We need a restaurant at Ponte a Serraglio. Bruno’s is great, but one is not enough, particularly in the summer.

I don’t know any details about buying or renting the space, I just know that it needs a new family to take over…anyone out there?

White blossoms

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Acacia trees are in full bloom and right now are covering the hills around Bagni di Lucca.

Bees love the flowers and they make delicious honey.

The flowers are edible. You can dip them in a light batter and fry them. I haven’t tried that but I have eaten one straight from the tree and it tasted a bit like raw peas.

I love the flowers and the smell is heavenly, but they make me sneeze.

i know they are a pest and it is a pity the hillsides are not covered with chestnut, hazelnut, walnut and cherry trees. If you look at old photos of Bagni di Lucca you will see that the hillsides were terraced. Grapevines and vegetables were grown, so the chestnut trees are long gone. The farms were abandoned and acacia grows more quickly than more useful trees, so we are now left with acacia. They are beautiful, but they are a menace…any takers for removing them to start a replanting process?

Learn Italian in Bagni di Lucca

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Laura Poggi, from the gorgeous Casa Tolomei in Via Umberto I in La Villa, is starting a small language school. She and her family have many years of experience and Laura is keen to start a new venture in Bagni di Lucca.

In a previous post I wrote about the amazing transformation Laura and her husband Andy have achieved in the house where Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning spent a couple of summers in the 19th century.  They bought it 5 years ago and have brought the beautiful house back to life. See the post here.

Work continues, but a couple of rooms are now available to rent and Laura can turn her attention to Italian lessons. This beautiful room will be for small groups. Larger groups will be in another part of the house.

It is possible to have one on one lessions with Laura, or to be part of a group lesson, the classes are flexible. Laura is delightful and I know her classes will be a lot of fun, the best way to learn a new language. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced, a course can be tailored for you.

Residential courses are also available, where you can stay at Casa Tolomei, take lessons in the morning and practise your Italian while exploring the villages.

Please email Laura at poggilaura@gmail.com for more information.

http://www.casaTolomei.com

Pleaee share this post with anyone you think might enjoy learning Italian in Bagni di Lucca.

A new restaurant for Bagni di Lucca

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Bagni di Lucca has a new restaurant, La Tana del Ghiro. It is not far from the pedestrian bridge from La Villa…on the opposite side of the river from the town.

The interior is pleasantly furnished.

All the food is prepared from local produce. We were delighted with our selections.

Bread, hot from the oven. It is a pizza base with oil and herbs.

…and regular bread.

Antipasti.

Ravioli with local trout.

Trout with roast potatoes.

Prosciutto with potatoes.

Beans with onions.

Pannacotta with fruit of the forest.

La Tana del Ghiro is a great addition to Bagni di Lucca’s list of restaurants. The food is good and reasonably priced, the service is friendly…I hope they do well. They will also be selling local produce in the future.

Phone…0583 805 869

Email…latanadelghiro@hotmail.com