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 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.
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
There are a few excellent events coming up in and around Bagni di Lucca.
I hope they will all be well attended.
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.
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 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.
Here is a photo of Il Monumento ai Caduti in La Villa in 1940.
…and now.
I like it with the trees.
Trattoria Borghesi was an institution in Bagni di Lucca for many years and everyone was disappointed when it closed a couple of years ago.
So when it reopened earlier this year there was much excitement. I missed the opening but recently went for lunch. Like many places in the area, a workman’s lunch for a set price is offered. For €11 you get first course, second course, side dish, water, wine and coffee.
We chose the chicken, torta salata, vegetables and pasta.
On another occasion there was soup, past with peas, ham and tomato, roast beef and eggplant…all delicious.
The food was very good and the service excellent.
The bar and restaurant have been renovated and look very clean and modern.
I’m sure Trattoria Borghesi is once again going to be very popular.
Trattoria Borghesi…85 Via Umberto I, La Villa.
Lucky Catherine Keens has a house in Lucchio. She was there recently and took these gorgeous photos of the village.
Autumn is a beautiful time to be in Lucchio. Thank you Catherine for sharing it with us.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 