Bagni di Lucca votes for a new mayor

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Yesterday, 6th May, and today the people of Bagni di Lucca have been voting for their new Sindaco (mayor). I can’t vote, but I walked up to our nearest polling station the see what was going on. Sezione No 3 is at the Bagno Bernabo.

The view of Ponte a Serraglio is just gorgeous, especially on a glorious sunny day, like today.

The lovely old spa has been restored recently and we are still waiting to see it open. I went inside, but only a couple of rooms were open.

One of the local carabinieri was on hand to watch over the proceedings.

The electoral lists.

Voting finishes today. I wonder who will win.

I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.

UPDATE…….

Massimo Betti, the handsome fellow in the first photo is our new mayor. He is from Bagni di Lucca and has a pharmacy in La Villa. He is a well known and respected business man who knows and loves Bagni di Lucca. Let’s hope he can bring some positive changes to the villages.

2 special events in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

On Friday 4th May the San Giovanni spa was officially opened by the outgoing mayor of Bagni di Lucca. Work has been going on for some time on the wonderful old building. It is great to see these places brought back to life.

I photographed the spa late last year while the work was still going on.

There is still some work to do on the interior, but it is looking good.

A good crowd gathered to watch as the mayor performed one of his final duties.

The mayor spoke and the new young priest for Bagni di Lucca blessed the building.

Then everyone charged inside to see what will be on offer when it really opens.

The rooms are light and airy, thanks to the sky lights and glass ceiling.

There are lots of treatment rooms and beautiful baths to take advantage of the health giving waters coming from the spring that feeds the spa. There has been a spa of some kind in this spot for centuries.

Hopefully the work will be completed soon and people will flock to the new spa.

The second event took place the next day at the station at Fornoli.

The mayor was on hand again to open the newly renovated waiting room at the Bagni di Lucca railway station. I recall arriving here in May 2003 and thinking I would like to take a broom and paintbrush to this place. Somebody finally has and it is going to look great, a much better welcome to Bagni di Lucca.

I missed the ribbon cutting, but I did see the scissors.

There isn’t much to photograph in the waiting room of a station, so I will show you around the outside.

The old station near the present one.

On the platform.

Waiting for a train.

There was even a train at the station.

Now if they could just get the train to coordinate with the bus that goes past the station all would be perfect.

I love the tree lined street that leads to the station.

I wonder what the new mayor will bring to Bagni di Lucca.

For those of you who are interested, there was lots of food on offer. Those who did not attend the openings should remember this for next time.

Art lessons in Longoio

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Peggy Gosling is organizing art lessons in the village of Longoio, where she lives for part of the year. She invited me to the pretty hamlet on the road from La Villa to Montefegatesi to talk about her upcoming venture.
The Longoio geese were at the entrance of the town to greet me.

I think they imagine themselves to be guards, protecting their territory, with lots of hissing and honking. I took their enthusiastic antics as a welcome. Soon their owner appeared to direct them home.

I wandered though the town which was begun centuries ago as a friary. There are lots of archways, which were apparently built by the friars so they could walk on top of them without having to walk through wet fields in the cold winters.

I love the old doorways and windows in the villages.

There are lovely details everywhere.

Spring has been a bit of a disappointment so far, but there are always spring flowers.

I don’t know what the yellow flowers are, but the new growth below is Laurel. Those Bay leaves will no doubt find their way into a pasta sauce.

The roses are just beginning and the tulips nearly finished.

I came across the old church above the village.

And I met the geese again on their travels.

There will certainly be lots of things to draw or paint for the budding artists who come to join Peggy.
Longoio Art is offering landscape drawing and painting holidays, starting later this year. Experienced artists and teachers will help develop your skills in gorgeous settings in and around Longoio.

Take a look at Longoio Art’s website for more information.

www.landscapepaintingtuscany.com

Saint Apollonia in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Saint Apollonia is the patron saint of dentists, or those suffering with dental problems. She was a martyr who suffered in Alexandria during an uprising against the Christians. Part of her torture was having her teeth pulled out…..most unpleasant. She is always represented in art with pincers.

What has this got to do with Bagni di Lucca, I hear you ask. Yesterday I went to the inauguration of a new statue dedicated to the the saint, at the point where Ponte a Serraglio meets Fornoli in the tiny street named after her.

On the way to the statue.

It is in a very pretty area of the village with a road that leads from the main street up to the agriturismo Le Torre. The houses and gardens are beautifully kept.

Quite a crowd had gathered for the celebrations by the time I arrived.

The sculpture was hidden from view.

I think the priest was asking for fine weather.

The local children performed the task of removing the covering.

Everyone gathered for photos.

The mayor gave a little speech.

Then the artist, Amerigo Peruzzi, who lives opposite, told us about his work.

The priest blessed the statue.

A new baby slept through the procedings.

Then it was time for some delicious food….of course, we are in Italy.

I hope Saint Apollonia would appreciate what was done in her honour, particularly the eating side of the celebrations.

If you walk up to Le Torre, stop for a moment to take a look at Bagni di Lucca newest art work.

It is a lot of fun to be included in local celebrations. The Festa Della Colombina is on this Sunday 6th May at the Villa Fiori Park from 10.00am to 6.00pm. Colombina is the name of a bread baked in the shape of a dove. It was made in Bagni di Lucca in the 1800s in the local ovens and served at cafes.
As well as eating Colombina you can paint a statuette or browse through a little market. Come along and join the fun.

Meet Jayne and Ilario from Del Sonno Restaurant

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

One of our favourite places to eat in Bagni di Lucca is Del Sonno. The food is great and Jayne and Ilario are delightful….what more could you want?

I know I am boring, but I almost always order the same thing, saltimbocca. It literally means “jump in the mouth”. If you taste it you will know why. The dish consists of thinly sliced veal, topped with prosciutto and sage leaves.

I usually have grilled vegetables as a side dish.

They also do a great pizza and when I can force myself not eat the saltimbocca I have a gorgonzola and prosciutto pizza….or a salame piccante….or quatro stagione…..

The crust is thin and crispy and the toppings, just right.

I have, on occasion, been known to have pannacotta or tiramisu. Then I walk home to Ponte a Serraglio.

Jayne allowed me into the kitchen last year and showed me how she makes her saltimbocca. If you click here you will find the post.

Say hello to Ilario if you go to Del Sonno. He is always there with a smile and he knows everything about Bagni di Lucca. Jayne will be in the kitchen making my saltimbocca.

Del Sonno Ristorante….146/148 Viale Umberto 1, La Villa

Ph. 0583 805080

www.ristorantedelsonno.it

Meet Livio, he helps to keep Bagni di Lucca beautiful

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

I see Livio regularly in Ponte a Serraglio, La Villa and Fornoli with his trolley and his birch broom.
He looks after us very well, keeping our streets clean.

I admired his birch broom one day and he very kindly offered it to me. His job would be great on a fine sunny day, but not so much fun on cold, windy ones.

Say hello to Livio next time you see him, he likes a chat.

Ponte pansies

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

The pansies on the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio are looking gorgeous just now. The smell is heavenly when you walk across the bridge.

It is wisteria time

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

I love wisteria! It blooms for such a short time, but it always looks wonderful and the smell is divine.

I have a plant on my balcony and this year it has produced a couple of flowers.

It’s growing!

Here is some we prepared earlier.

The bees love it……and so do I.

My plant has about 4 flowers on it and soon they will be beautiful.

Do you like music and art?

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

There has been an interest in music and art in the Bagni di Lucca for centuries. The art side of things is obvious…we are surrounded by gorgeous art in the churches and museums in the area.

Puccini was born in Lucca and performed, along with many other famous musicians, in several locations in Bagni di Lucca. The appreciation of music continues in the village.

For those visiting the village this summer, local music and art aficionado, Paula Chesterman has organised art and music appreciation tours. There will be visits to Lucca and Florence with the emphasis on art and music and Puccini opera at the open air theatre in nearby Torre del Lago, where the composer lived for a time.

Paula has been involved with music and the performing arts for most of her life. She was a music teacher in England and for many years brought her students to Italy where her choir performed her own compositions in several amazing venues, including St Marks in Venice.

She came to Bagni di Lucca 6 years ago, fell in love with the village, bought a house and moved here permanently……it happens a lot. The beauty and rich history of the area has inspired her to share her knowledge and love of art with those who visit. Her daughter Jo, is also a music teacher. She lives in nearby Modena and will be assisting with the tours.

Teatro Accademico in La Villa.

Visit Paula’s website……www.tuscantalent.com………for more information.

Montefegatesi, the highest of the Bagni di Lucca villages

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Montefegatesi sits high above the other villages in Bagni di Lucca. It is 842 metres above sea level. It takes about 25 minutes to drive up the steep, winding road from La Villa, unless you are Italian and drive like Fangio, in which case it might only take 10 minutes. I prefer to live, so 25 minutes is just fine.

Because of its strategic position it was used by Lucca to guard the boundary with Modena, and as a result was subject to enemy assault.

All that is in the distant past, and now the village sits sleepily in the sun, enjoying its view over some of the other hamlets making up Bagni di Lucca.

After parking the car in the car parking area just outside the village we followed an Ape into town.

There are some pretty coloured houses.

And a tiny church in the first piazza.

From this square there are 2 narrow roads leading through the village. We took the high road towards the top for the exceptional views from there.

Take a closer look at that orange house on the hill opposite. It is the colour of a Halloween pumpkin. I love it!!

Along the way there is lots to see.

The cemetery in the distance.

Weeds. Look closer.

A lovely local Signora told me the plant is called scarletina and grows wild on rock walls all over the village.

I think that is Monte di Villa below the rooftops. ( I have since been informed that the village is Tereglio, thank you for the information)

There’s that orange house again.

At the top of the hill is the monument to Dante Aleghieri, built by the villagers in 1908.

This man never looks happy.

There are great views of the village from here.

Next time we will take the low road.

On the afternoon we went to Montfegatesi we experienced all kinds of weather. We had rain, sun, wind and even a little snow. It made for some dramatic skies.

There is a bus that goes from La Villa to Montefegatesi, but it only goes once or twice a day. Be sure you can get back if you go this way.

Click here to see Montefegatesi in spring.

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

Tag Archives: Bagni di Lucca