Mark and Katrina, new home owners in Bagni di Lucca, made a short return visit before the current restrictions and Mark was busy with his camera again. Here are the results.
Mark 2 photos
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Tag Archives: photography
San Cassiano War Memorial
The War Memorial in San Cassiano has been lovingly restored. Too many lives were lost from the area. It is heart breaking to see the list of the names of those who died fighting.
Bands played, crowds came…people of all ages, there were speeches, there was food and there was rain.
I saw the restored monument last week and it is looking great. It is clear that these men will not be forgotten.
I wasn’t there today, as I am now on my way back to Australia for a few months. Thank you to Paul Anthony Davies for allowing me to share his wonderful photos.
Womens’ Day Exhibition
This evening was the opening event for the exhibition of art and photography to celebrate Womens’ Day at the Casino in Ponte a Serraglio.
I went earlier in the day to take photos. It is always great to see the beautiful rooms of the casino.
In the main room is the collection of art.
he second room holds photos of women at work. The photos are both old and current…an excellent insight into the lives of women in Bagni di Lucca.
The evening was well attended.
The exhibition will be open each day this week from 5.00pm.
Living nativity
One of the most delightful events to happen in Bagni di Lucca is coming up. The Presepe Vivente will be held on 4th December. This year it will be in Pieve di Monti di Villa. The residents have been busy preparing the village. Paul Davies dropped in to take some photos.
This is an event not to be missed.
Chestnuts in Lucchio
Lucchio is the village that clings to an almost vertical mountain side. At the top is La Rocca, the ruins of an old fort.
La Rocca was our first destination before seeking out the roasting chestnuts.
It is a steep climb to the top along a rocky path.
We passed an enthusiastic gardener digging his rich looking soil.
Onwards and upwards…
There are some steep steps to the very top.
There isn’t much of the fort left, just a few crumbling walls.
The views are stunning even on a misty, wet day.
A family found a great spot for a picnic.
We had lunch in the local restaurant, which had drawn a large crowd. Our 3 course lunch was delicious. I forgot to photograph the pasta course and the roast meat, but here is the antipasti.
The chestnuts were being roasted down by the church, so this time we headed down towards the bottom of the village. Not many people live in Lucchio these days, but the village is well loved by those who do live there. The streets are well maintained and clean. There are a few houses for sale, just in case you are looking for a quiet life with great views.
The church was open and later there was to be a concert.
The chestnut roasting was well underway by the time we got there. I have acquired a taste for necci with ricotta, and this was the best I have had.
The road down offers glimpses of Lucchio through the trees.
Wednesday photo
The lights come on at Ponte a Serraglio.
Monday photo
I’m going to post a single photo each day for the next week. Here is Monday’s photo…early morning at Ponte a Serraglio.
Autumn arrives
Cool weather and misty mornings and golden light have arrived in Bagni di Lucca.
Autumn is a beautiful season. I love the cool mornings and evenings. Soon the leaves will fall.
A wooden horse
The wooden horse and rider in the museum at San Cassiano is not just any horse. The sculpture has been attributed to Jacopo della Quercia. He was an early Renaissance artist from Querciagrossa, near Siena. He became a resident of Lucca when his family moved there.
He was in the contest to design the Doors of Paradise at the Baptistery in Florence, but lost out to Ghiberto. One of his most famous works is the exquisite sarcophagus of Ilaria in the cathedral in Lucca.
On a recent trip to San Cassiano I was delighted to find the museum open. It is housed in the Oratory opposite the church.
Up close the wooden carving is beautiful. In 1909 it was found in a state of considerable neglect. It was restored in the 1920s and again in the early 1990s.
The sculpture is made up of 3 elements of linden wood. 2 elements make up most of the horse, while the bust of the saint is carved from a single block of wood.
Behind the horse are 2 other carvings. Both are carved from a single block of poplar wood, with the exception of some parts of the hands and the head. On the left of the altar is Archangel Gabriel and on the right The Virgin of the Annunciation.
The church was open on the day I visited as well.
The interior is stunning. It looks ancient.
The floor has been worn down by centuries of feet.
The villages of Bagni di Lucca are a treasure trove for those who go looking.
Campiglia Alta
Campiglia Alta is another area of Bagni di Lucca I was unaware of until recently. The turnoff is on the road from La Villa to San Cassiano.
It is really just a collection of houses in a gorgeous setting.
A peaceful tree lined road takes you up the mountain.
I was there in late spring. Everything was bright green.
The views are fabulous and the silence is wonderful.
…a special place to live.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 