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.