The blossoms are gone from the fruit trees and the tiny fruit has appeared. Soon we will be eating some delicious summer fruits and berries.
Tiny, perfectly formed pears.
Baby cherries.
Peaches?
Plums?
Figs….my favourite.
Gooseberries.
Don’t know.
Raspberries?
And let’s not forget the grapes.
I hope I get to try some before I have to go home.
There is a lovely park behind the main street in La Villa, the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca. It is a cool place to sit on a hot day and there is a children’s playground.
The park had a bit of a makeover last year. The old trees were trimmed, the water tower renovated, the playgound renewed and a new fountain was installed.
It is great to see that the park is well used by locals and visitors alike.
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.
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.
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.
The pansies on the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio are looking gorgeous just now. The smell is heavenly when you walk across the bridge.
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.
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 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.
Look for the bright pink house as you enter Guzzano.
Guzzano is only 10 minutes from La Villa, on the road towards Montefegatesi. It is a beautiful little village where most of the houses are occupied full time. We visited on a gorgeous, early spring afternoon. It was a bit hazy, but the views are still dramatic.
We think this sign is asking drivers to watch out for dogs.
The tree in front of the church is going to look very impressive soon.
Now, to the geese. We came upon a flock of geese out for a stroll…and what a handsome bunch they were.
That is the boy in front, giving orders.
The girls are answering back.
He wants the grass she is eating.
He really wants it.
Let’s go this way.
No, that way.
These geese are very vocal. I wish I understood goose.
Sadly, since I was in Guzzano taking these photos, one of the female geese and a gosling were killed by a weasel. Life can be very cruel.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 