Il Mulino Vecchio in Fabbriche di Valico

There is an excellent restaurant in the small village of Fabbriche di Vallico, about 30 minutes from Bagni di Lucca. The food is good, local fare served by cheerful people…what more could you want?

The village is beside a small, but fast flowing river. We parked in the central car park and wandered through the village



The restaurant takes its name from the still operating flour mill, which is beside the restaurant building.

The mill dates from 1726. It still uses flowing water from the torrent to drive the machinery to make flour from chick peas, chestnuts, farro and wheat. The water flows under the mill.




We were given a tour of the mill before making our purchases. Grains are ground in different rooms.

On the ground floor is the shop where you can buy the flour.

After selecting our flour we walked next door to the restaurant. It was a cool day so we sat inside. There is an open area which would be lovely in summer.

The food is typical of the area. We enjoyed our delicious lunch and mill tour.


Fabricche di Vallico is a pretty drive from Bagni di Lucca, well worth a visit.

Casino tour

This weekend FAI (a bit like the National Trust) organised walking tours of the Casino and Bernabo Spa in Ponte a Serraglio. The tours were extremely well attended on Saturday and Sunday, bringing lots of new people to the area.

Our tour began at the casino. It is the first purpose built casino in Europe. Carlo Lodovico di Borbone commissioned Giuseppe Pardini to build it in 1837.

We then walked up the hill to the Bernabo Spa. It has been beautifully restored and offers a range of treatments along with a fabulous deep marble bath and natural steam rooms.



There is a great view of Ponte a Serraglio from the terrace in front of the spa.

From there we walked down the hill and stopped briefly in front of what was the English Club, which is now the home of a friend.

We walked back to the casino for an inside tour.

The entrance and sitting room.

This was once a ballroom.

This is the orchestra stage.

The beautiful ceiling.

Detail of some of the decoration.



Delightful Virgilio gave us some lessons in the types of games that were once played in the various casinos that were operating in the area.

Look out for any future walking tours with the FAI.

Back in Bagni di Lucca

I have returned to beautiful Bagni di Lucca after being away for almost 4 months. I love the winter here, especially the view from my balcony in Ponte a Serraglio.

Time for a walk to see familiar things.

Spring will be here soon, I love that too.

It is good to be back in bella Bagni di Lucca.

Coming up in Bagni di Lucca

There are some interesting things coming up in Bagni di Lucca over the next couple of weeks.

A concert at the Casino to raise money for Auser, which helps a lot of people in the community.

An easy walk in Montefegatesi and a walk to the towers in Popiglio, with a medium degree of difficulty.

Plant an olive tree.

The final street market for the year.

No reflection at Ponte della Maddalena

The river is as low as I have ever seen it under the Ponte della Maddalena at Borgo a Mozzano, on the way to Bagni di Lucca. I have been coming here now for almost 20 years.

This is the view I usually see.

This is what it looks like now.

From the other side.

From the top.

On a brighter note the vegetation is growing back on the site of the landslide.

We have had some rain recently but it will take a lot more to bring the river back to its usual level.

Beautiful rain

While it might not be great for those who are here on holidays, the recent rain is very welcome after a dry, hot summer.

I like the misty morning and the sound of the rain at Ponte a Serraglio.

The rain is needed to fill dams, the springs that feed the rivers and the poor distressed plants. Let’s hope we get good rain over the next few months.

Things to do in Bagni di Lucca

There is a new enoteca opening in Fornoli. It is great to see new businesses opening in Bagni di Lucca.

I highly recommend the guided walks around Bagni di Lucca. You will definitely discover treasures.

The crossbow competition is fun to watch. It will begin around 9.30 I believe. it would be a good idea to put more information on the posters.

Beautiful things in Bagni di Lucca

There is a new shop in Bagni di Lucca, Villa. It is called Flora Gioh Donatella. We are lucky to have artist Scarlaty Arribabene and her beautiful designs in our town.


She studied modern art at Moma in New York and now shows and sells her work in her shop in Bagni di Lucca. All pieces from Flora Gioh Donatella are made with love by Scarlaty. She makes jewellery with a botanical theme. Each piece of the collection represents leaves, flowers and delicate fragments of nature.

She also makes deliciously fragrant candles.

Donatella is a line of paintings that combine shapes and textures, harmony and contradiction.

The shop is bright, spacious and inviting.

I met the delightful artist recently and I wish her the best in her new venture.

Flora Gioh Donatella is in Via Umberto I, at the post office end of the street.

http://www.floragiohdonatella.com

A nearby festival

Most festivals in Italy have not happened over the last 2 years because of Covid. It is encouraging to see this about to change this year.

We dropped in briefly to an olive oil festival in Valdottavo on Sunday.

We were there early and wandered through the pretty main street of the town to see lots of stalls set up.

The first stand had a familiar face. This family also runs the wonderful fruit and vegetable shop in Ponte a Serraglio. We picked up a few supplies on the way out.

We gathered a few other things on our walk through the town, including olive oil, a fennel disgestivo and some locally made sausages. It is a good way to get to know local growers and producers.

We had to leave before lunch which was a pity. Long tables were being set up and I’m sure the food would have been delicious.

Valdottavo is a pretty, well kept town with some impressive buildings. I think it needs another visit.