Canyon Park, a new adventure experience

Bagni di Lucca has an excellent new addition…and adventure park on the Lima River at Scesta near Cocciglia…on the Brennero road towards Abetone. It is called Canyon Park.

Canyon Park

Access is from the free car park at the Campo Sportivo via a short track. It is the first Adventure Park to be set up within a canyon.

There is a zip line, high wire suspension bridge and more. It is also possible to go rafting on the river. Take a look as these fabulous photos taken by Ruggero Mengoni.

Adventure park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Adventure Park Bagni di Lucca

Canyon Park Bagni di Lucca

Doesn’t this look like great fun?? Have you been yet? I would love to hear all about it.

There are more photo on Bagni di Lucca and Beyond. Click here to take a look.

www.canyonpark.it

Phone (39) 327 6153483

info@canyonpark.it

Photographs…www.ruggeromengoni.com

Summer in Ponte a Serraglio

Ponte a Serraglio looks glorious in summer. I love every season, but when everything is green and lush Ponte is wonderful.

Ponte a Serraglio

Ponte a Serraglio

Ponte a Serraglio

Ponte a Serraglio

Ponte a Serraglio

Ponte a Serraglio

Ponte a Serraglio

Ponte a Serraglio

There are often fishermen on the river, I hope they catch something.

Ponte a Serraglio

By the end of the hottest season the water level in the river drops unless there is summer rain.

This year has been very hot and dry, so it will no longer be as green as when I took these photos, but still beautiful.

Riolo revisited

Late spring seemed like the perfect time for another visit to Riolo.

Riolo

There is a car park at the bottom of the village and it is a pleasant walk up to the pretty piazza in the centre of town.

Riolo

Riolo

Riolo

Riolo

There is a fountain where you can get a cool drink of water.

Riolo

There is a fine collection of interesting doorways and colourful gardens.

Riolo

Riolo

Fruit, vegetables and flowers thrive in the hot weather.

Riolo

Riolo

Riolo

Riolo

Riolo

There are always great views from the mountain villages.

Riolo

Riolo

Riolo

I met a couple of four legged residents.

Riolo

Riolo

On my way out I saw the preparations for next winter…which seems a long way off.

Riolo

 

 

Bagni di Lucca Art Festival

The Bagni di Lucca Art Festival was launched on Saturday night. Our trusty Sheila was there to report on the evening.

Lots of people were out and about…it is great to see the road closed and full of art lovers.

Art Festival Bagni di Lucca

Art Festival Bagni di Lucca

Art festival Bagni di Lucca

Here is a roundup of some of the work on show.

Art festival Bagni di Lucca

 

The river installation is great…again. This is always a popular addition to the festival.

Art festival Bagni di Lucca

Thank you Sheila for showing us around the festival…it continues until 10th August.

For more on the festival go to http://www.artfestivalbagnidilucca.org

 

Art festival Bagni di Lucca

Swim in the Lima

Summer in Italy is hot, especially this year. The water in the Lima River is cold…the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day.

Lima River

We found this inviting place to swim near the bridge to Casoli.

Casoli bridge

Casoli bridge

Lima River

There is a path down to the river. The water looked wonderful. Unfortunately we had no towels or swimsuits so had to content ourselves with an ankle deep paddle.

Lima River

 

I would have loved to dive into the deeper water.

Lima River

Lima River

The water is clear and running fairly quickly. The photos were taken in mid June, so it may have slowed a bit.

Lima River

We saw lots of tadpoles…they are probably frogs now.

Lima River

Happy swimming.

 

Green Granaiola

In late spring Granaiola looked gorgeously green.

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Grape vines were growing well.

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Gardens were flourishing.

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

The renovator’s delight I photographed a while ago is still there.

Granaiola

The surrounding mountains and villages shone in the sun.

Granaiola

Granaiola

Granaiola

Ponte a Serraglio lies in the valley below.

Granaiola

Granaiola

In the distance you can see Pieve di Monti di Villa, Monte di Villa and Riolo.

Granaiola

Pieve di Monti di Villa.

Pieve di Monti di Villa

Monti di Villa.

Monti di Villa

Riolo.

Riolo

If you look really carefully through the trees you can see Bugnano, the abandoned village.

Bugnano

Biribisso is a great restaurant in Granaiola…must go back soon.

Biribisso

…gorgeous Graniaola.

Art in the park 2015

On Sunday the eighth annual Art Competition organised by Borgo degli Artisti was held in the park beside Villa Fiori. The day was hot, so most artists set up their easels in the shade of the old trees. Art comp Villa Fiori
Art comp Villa Fiori Art Comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori There was a space set up for the children, and Belinda, to paint a dove or create their own art. Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Lunch is always an important part of the day…always. Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori The artists had to work quickly. Their work had to be completed in time for the judging. Art comp a Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori Art comp Villa Fiori The winners were… Student…Serenella Randazza 1st…Emilio Cavani 2nd…Silvio Bondarda 3rd…Massimo Ricco 4th…Graziana Masetti. A big thank you to Sheila, who took all these great photos for us. Sheila at the Art Comp …and thank you to Borgo degli Artisti for organising the event. They do a wonderful job on the Art Competition every year.

Click here to see the post by Francis with all the paintings and the winners’ works of art.

The best view in Montefegatesi?

I went to a lovely party in Montefegatesi just before I left for Australia. Montefegatesi is one of my favourite villages, and we walked almost to the top to the house of our friend.

Montefegatesi

The house is perched on the side of a hill overlooking the gorgeous valley below.

Montefegatesi

Montefegatesi

Montefegatesi

Montefegatesi

…a pool with a view.

Montefegatesi

The sun goes down over our mountains.

Montefegatesi

 

Montefegatesi

Montefegatesi

Montefegatesi

Montefegatesi

Montefegatesi is a wonderful mountain village…a great place to watch the sun set.