Bar Italia is expanding

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

We are very lucky in Ponte a Serraglio to have Bar Italia. It is open from early in the morning until late at night every day of the year. I go every morning for coffee when I am in Ponte a Serraglio, a perfect start to the day.

Recently, owner and barista extraordinaire, Annalisa, took over the Tabacchi beside the bar. The space is being renovated and will reopen soon as an extension of Bar Italia. All Tabacchi services and some new ones will return with the opening on 5th April.

Bar Italia will close from 24th March until 5th April in order to complete the final renovation work. I will certainly miss my morning coffee and aperitivo at Bar Italia!

Giornata Internazionale della Donna

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

Celebrate International Womens’ Day at Villa Web in Bagni di Lucca Villa on Sunday 9th March at 3.00pm.

Jazz at La Ninfa

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

At Hotel La Ninfa in Ponte a Serraglio there will be dinner and jazz on Thursday 6th March.

Phone 0583 1390033 for information.

Jasmine comes home

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

There will be an event to celebrate the success of Jasmine Paolini, Bagni di Lucca’s tennis star. It will be at noon, 4th February at Circolo dei Forestieri, Bagni di Lucca Villa. Jasmine will be back where she took her first steps towards her tennis career.

Plans for Villa Fiori

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

There was a meeting at the casino in Ponte a Serraglio on Tuesday to introduce the plans for Villa Fiori, which has recently been purchased by Sean Connelly, a Chartered Consulting Engineer who specialises in the design and build of Commercial and Residential Wellness and leisure facilities for resort hotels, clubs and super-prime residential properties. I think Villa Fiori is in good hands.

I was not at the casino on Tuesday but a friend has sent one view of the plans for the venture.

It is expected that the permits should be completed in the next 3 months and the project finished in 4 years.

It seems a circular spa and restaurant will surround a thermal pool. Villa Fiori will be a hotel. I hope to get more information when I return to Ponte a Serraglio in a few weeks.

I think this will be excellent for Bagni di Lucca. There should be jobs for local tradespeople and accommodation will be needed for workers who are brought in. Once the project is finished there should be lots of jobs and local businesses will benefit from the extra people coming to Bagni di Lucca to enjoy the facilities.

I hope work begins while I am in Bagni di Lucca on my upcoming visit.

Bar Roma

Posted on January 11, 2025 by Debra Kolkka

When I tell my friends in Australia that I go to the bar for breakfast every morning when I am in Italy they look a bit surprised. In Australia you go to a bar to drink alcohol. In Italy you go to a bar to do everything…breakfast coffee and pastry, meet friends for a light lunch and head back again in the evening for aperitivo. It is the very best place to gather and socialise.

We are lucky in Bagni di Lucca to have great bars. Bar Roma in Bagni di Lucca Villa has been in the Tomei family for decades. Some handed down recipes appear in the form of Nonna’s budino, home made foccacia for delicious sandwiches, gelato and much more.

Bar Roma has recently added a covered area to meet when it is hot, cold, raining or sunny…perfect.

After breakfast my favourite time is aperitivo. I think it should happen all over the world.

As soon as I get back to Bagni di Lucca I’m heading up to Bar Roma to eat a budino!

Bar Roma, 124 Viale Umberto I

Phone…+39 0583 179 8017

Santa’s Day

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Debra Kolkka

Bagni di Lucca Villa put on a wonderful event on Sunday with Santa as the star of the day. The streets were filled with happy children involved in activities, workshops and a personal meeting with Santa at Villa Web.
Of course there was delicious food and, best of all, community spirit. Dozens of volunteers worked together to create a wonderful day of creativity and fun.

Thank you Priscilla Valentino for allowing me to share the photos. Well done to all those involved in an excellent Bagni di Lucca event.

A big day in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on December 14, 2024 by Debra Kolkka

Sunday December 15 is shaping up to be a big day. Bagni di Lucca Villa is the place to be for Christmas celebrations and more…

First of all, the Puccini’s Women exhibition, arranged by the Borgo degli Artisti, at Circolo dei Forestieri has extended. Here is another chance to see the art works from 10.30 – 18.30. Below are a few examples.

Santa’s big day is not to be missed! There will be lots of fun activities and food.

Look out for the beautiful nativity scenes at Circolo dei Forestieri.

Delicious food at La Ninfa

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Debra Kolkka

Simone, the young and passionate chef at La Ninfa is cooking up food the locals love. It is great to see the newly renovated hotel doing well. A local contact sent me some photos. I look forward to trying it when I return to Ponte a Serraglio in early 2025.