If you take the road to Montefegatesi that goes past Monti di Villa and keep your eyes peeled you will spot a perfect place to stop to get excellent views of this gorgeous village. I went with friends in November and was rewarded with this lovely sight.
Every time I visit Montefegatesi I am reminded of the tenacity of the early settlers to these mountain villages. They must have been made of stern stuff.
My friends Rina and Alfredo drove up into the mountains above Montefegatesi.
They were above the clouds and took some photos to share with us.
I love the Bagni di Lucca mountains.
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.
The house is perched on the side of a hill overlooking the gorgeous valley below.
…a pool with a view.
The sun goes down over our mountains.
Montefegatesi is a wonderful mountain village…a great place to watch the sun set.
It is officially spring, but the warm weather lately has meant that signs of spring appeared early this year. It was a beautiful day yesterday…perfect for a visit to Montefegatesi, one of my favourite villages. At 842 metres above sea level, it is the highest of Bagni di Lucca’s villages.
A walk to the Dante monument at the top of the villages is always fun, and the views from the top are spectacular. Spring flowers are popping up all over town.
Montefegatesi cats were out enjoying the sunny day.
Vittorio Emanuele keeps an eye on things.
I love the old faces and designs carved into the facades.
Dante cuts a fine figure in his lofty position.
This is what he sees, you would think he might look a bit happier.
…another lovely walk through Montefegatesi, and some more photos.
I want to go back when this enormous fig tree has fruit.
Today we had our first real taste of winter. The temperature stayed around 6 degrees for most of the day and it rained…a perfect day for a drive in the mountains.
There has been snow on Prato Fiorito, making it look gorgeous.
As we climbed higher towards Montefegatesi the snow was falling quite heavily.
Montefegatesi looks great at any time, but a dusting of snow makes it look even better.
We went for a short walk around the village. The temperature up there was zero.
There are storms all around us again tonight. Perhaps there will be even more snow tomorrow.
On a beautiful summer evening in July, Dante Alighieri devotees were invited to an evening of poetry. The crowd gathered at the monument to Dante, high above Montefegatesi, to listen to Sergio Frati recite from memory, hymns from the Divine Comedy.
With help from fellow Dante lover, Giovanni Pacini, Sergio had the crowd enthralled.
What a wonderful way to spend a summer evening.
The views from the Dante Monument are spectacular.
It wouldn’t be an Italian evening without food, and after the recital everyone congregated for dinner at a very long table outside the club.
After dinner the group went to the town theatre where there was a historical exhibition of emigration relating to Montefegatesi.
Sergio then recited another three sections of The Divine Comedy, telling the story of Paolo, Francesco, Ugolino and other characters from Dante’s masterpiece.
I am sorry I wasn’t there for what looks like a fun evening. The photos and story were made possible by Emanuele Lotti of the Bagni di Lucca Trekking Club. Thank you Emanuele for helping us to keep up with what is happening in Bagni di Lucca.
Click here to see more on the Bagni di Lucca Trekking Club.
Dante Alighieri keeps watch over the village.
I had only been to Montefegatesi in winter, so I thought I should take a look in warmer weather. Last time I was in the village I took the high road to the top. This time I went the other way, winding down towards the bottom.
Come for a walk through the tiny streets of Montefegatesi in lovely spring.
This white furry bundle is not a cat.
It is a cute little rabbit roaming free on a terrace.
I’ll be back soon to Bagni di Lucca for late summer and autumn…..can’t wait.
Click here to see the previous post on Montefegatesi to see the high road and the statue of Dante Alighieri watching over the village.
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 