I arrived from Australia to find my daffodils have appeared on the balcony. I planted a couple of bulbs a few years ago and they have multiplied.
They are such cheery little flowers and have clearly been enjoying the rain.
Soon I will plant pansies on the bridge.
For those who would like a change from delicious Italian food, how about a delicious curry?
On Friday 26th February Ristorante del Sonno in La Villa is having one of their famous curry nights. For just €10 you can enjoy chicken, beef or vegetarian curry with rice. The price includes a small beer or a quarter litre of wine. Call 0583 805080 or 3356197303 to make a reservation.
It is almost time for the festival to celebrate women at the casino in Ponte a Serraglio.
In a week of events there will be something for everyone…see you there.
Some undergrowth has been removed from what is left of the garden around Villa Fiori in Ponte a Serraglio. A sculpture of a diving girl has been uncovered.
She is one of a group of sculptures that stood around a shallow pool, now empty and abandoned. The others have disappeared and she has lost an arm.
The neglect of this building is a crying shame…but you could do something about this. Villa Fiori is for sale. For less than €1 million it could be yours.
Spread the word, tell everyone you know. There must be someone out there with vision (and money). Bagni di Lucca is a wonderful collection of villages, famous for its spas. The area is gorgeous, with mountains, a beautiful river and the first casino in Europe, as well as the spas that need a little love and attention. While other towns and villages in Italy struggle to find a focus for regrowth, Bagni di Lucca is a treasure trove.
It just needs someone with ideas and money to bring life to some of the magnificent old buildings. We love Bagni di Lucca just the way it is, and we don’t want it to change too much, but it would be great to see more opportunities for young locals, who shouldn’t have to leave their beloved home town to find work.
Most of the villages in Bagni di Lucca have monuments to fallen soldiers from WWI and WWII.
Ponte a Serraglio is no exception.
I think the statue is very stylish. It looks a bit Art Deco to me. What do you think?
The church at Ponte a Serraglio was built in 1544. It has been remodelled a few times.
Here it is in 1910.
…and 1922.
…and after the last restoration.
Here it is now.
The interior is quite pretty.
The church is very well kept by a group of volunteers and is often adorned with flowers…poke your head in if you are nearby. It is a short walk from the bridge on the opposite side of the river from the piazza.
Don’t miss Carnevale in Fornoli on 14th February.
During WWII the Hotel Terme in Bagni Caldi was chosen by the Interior Minister of the Fascist R.S.I (Italian Social Republic) as the district concentration camp.
Between December 1943 and January 1944 more than 100 Jews were interned in the camp.
The larger group was composed of almost 60 foreign Jews, sent to Castelnuovo di Garfagnana during the second half of 1941 in “free internment”.
A small group of foreign Jews, who were already free in BdL, and about 30 Italian Jews arrested in other places in the district joined them.
On 23rd January 1944 the interned Jews were transported from Bagni di Lucca to Florence, then to Milan. On 30th January they were sent to Auschwitz.
Only 5 out of more than 100 Jews from Bagni di Lucca survived deportation.
The information came from researchgate.net.
It can be a bit difficult for new visitors to Italy to understand the parking signs.
In many places in Bagni di Lucca (and other places) you will see this sign.
It means you can park for free, but only for 2 hours, between the hours of 8.00am to 8.00pm. Outside these hours parking for longer periods is OK.
The little dial on the bottom left of the sign indicates that you need to set your timer.
In your car you should have a timer. Set this at the time you park your car and remember to come back before the time expires.
Your hire car should have one. If not, I have found them for a couple of euros at Tabacchi and some newsagents.
If you forget to set your timer that is no excuse. If the police come you will be issued with a fine.
There is a small piazza above La Villa, the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca. Bagno alla Villa has one of the many spas that used to be a popular place to “take the waters”.
The spa is still there but is not operating.
The building has been restored and there is even a pool in the nearby property, Villa Ada.
Work has been done to restore several of the baths in Bagni di Lucca. Soon they will fall into disrepair again. It is a puzzle to me why the administration is not doing more to encourage someone to operate the spas and help bring people and employment to the area.
…any takers?
