Strawberries and harp music

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

We were invited to an event to mark the closing of Morena Guarnaschelli’s art exhibition at the Bagni di Lucca Terme. Who could resist another chance to see the gorgeous salon in this historic building?

The Salon is where the game of roulette was said to be first played. The room became too small and Europe’s first Casino was built beside the river at Ponte a Serraglio.

Morena was there to greet us.

We had some time to look at her beautiful art exhibition. Click here to see more.

We took our seats and Dr Vito Valentino spoke to us about the history of the room and about Morena’s art.

Anna-Livia’s harp looked perfectly at home in this lovely setting.

Anna-Livia Walker studied at the Luigi Boccherini school in Lucca. She played a delightful selection of music for us, from classical compositions to the more recent Scarborough Fair and Moon River.

To make the morning even more special, we were treated to chocolate brownies, strawberries and cream and sparkling wine. What a delightful way to spend a Sunday morning.

Breakfast at the station

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

My friend Heather and I were waiting for a train at the Fornoli station the other morning when we spotted a small herd of goats, with their owner and their dog, having breakfast beside the tracks.

They were a very handsome family of goats, with impressive horns, and lovely beards…obviously well looked after.

Just as our train pulled into the station the little group wandered off after enjoying some tasty new spring leaves.

I do love these little rustic scenes that happen occasionally in Bagni di Lucca.

What a difference the sun makes

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

I think Ponte a Serraglio looks beautiful in any weather. I love the wet, misty days… they have their own beauty.

But when the sun shines Ponte a Serraglio comes to life. We have had far too many wet days this year. Spring is late coming, but there a finally signs that is on its way.

Canoeists and rafters are appearing in the river.

And there are flowers everywhere.

With a bit of luck our run of crummy weather is behind us and we can enjoy the delights of spring…better late than never.

A day at the coast

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

The beautiful Versilia Coast in northern Tuscany is only an hour away from Bagni di Lucca, making a trip to Viareggio, Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi an easy day trip.

There is a long strip of sandy beach stretching as far as the eye can see with a magnificent backdrop of marble filled mountains. The view from the pier at Forte dei Marmi is one of my favorites in Italy.

I have occasionally seen surfers waiting patiently for a wave at Forte dei Marmi.

Click here to see more on the beach at Forte dei Marmi.

Forte dei Marmi is a beautiful town full of stylish shops and restaurants. I love the little fort, Il Fortino, in the centre of town.

The fort was begun in 1782 for Leopoldo, the Grand Duke of Tuscany to view and defend the surrounding territory. It also served as a customs office.

Behind the fort is a restaurant of the same name. I strongly recommend you go to Il Fortino for lunch. No trip to Forte dei Marmi is complete for me without branzino ravioli with scampi sauce.

There is a delightful antique market in Forte dei Marmi once a month…every second Sunday and the preceding Saturday.

Pietrasanta also has a beach, but I prefer to visit the town, famous for its art galleries and artists’ studios.

It has a beautiful piazza with a lovely church. The piazza is often filled with fabulous art works.

There is a wonderful food market in the piazza the same weekend as the antique market in Forte dei Marmi.

I had a delicious lunch at Pinocchio in Vicolo San Biagio 5.

We also like Osteria alla Giudea in Via Padre Eugenio Barsanti where I particularly like the spaghetti with anchovies.

Click here to see more on Pietrasanta.

A great time to visit Viareggio is in February for the magnificent Carnevale parade of floats. I have been 4 times and can’t wait to see the event next year.

Click here to see more on the Carnevale.

The quickest way from Bagni di Lucca to the Versilia Coast is to drive to Lucca and take the autostrada. It will take about 1 hour to reach the coast. There is also a very pretty road through Camaiora that will take a bit longer but it can be worth it for the drive through fruit orchards and olive groves.

It is possible to take public transport as well. Take the Lazzi bus to Lucca and change there for Viareggio. There are buses from there to Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi. There are also trains from Lucca.

La Mostra di Morena

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Morena Guarnaschelli, a prominent member of Borgo degli Artisti, has a lovely exhibition of her paintings in a gorgeous salon in Terme di Bagni di Lucca at Bagni Caldi, above Ponte a Serraglio.

Surely this room is one of the most beautiful secrets in Bagni di Lucca.

The walls and ceiling are covered with delightful frescoes.

I particularly liked the birds decorating the ceiling.

Morena’s exhibition is on until the 28th April. Don’t miss it…and take the time to look at the beautiful salon.

www.termebagnidilucca.it

Bagni di Lucca’s Art Festival

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Bagni di Lucca is set to host a brand new Art Festival this summer. In the sunny months of July, August and September Ponte a Seraglio will be filled with performance artists, painters, sculptors and photographers.

Meet part of the organizing team.

From the left…Jaqueline, Ira, our Sindaco Dottore Betti and Jake.

With the help of our Sindaco (mayor), our beautiful venues, such as the Teatro Accademico, the Casino, the Sala Parrocchiale and others will be filled with exciting performance artists. Click here to see more on the Casino and here for the Teatro Accademico.

As well as this, artists will be able to display their collections of art work in some of the unused shops in the main street of Ponte a Serraglio at no cost. One of the best aspects of this is that the local people are getting involved in the clean up and renovation of these lovely shops, some of which have been empty for decades.

It is absolutely wonderful to see people working together to make the village more beautiful and to provide a welcome space for the artists.

A particularly exciting part if the festival will be provided by the very talented (and charming) Ira Seidenstein. Ira has been involved in the theatre since 1973 as an actor, director, playwright and choreographer. He also has extensive experience in clown theatre. Among other things he has worked with the world renowned Cirque du Soleil as a performer and teacher.

It is in his capacity as a teacher that he will be involved in the Art Festival. Ira has conducted workshops in London, Paris, Auckland , Barcelona and is now on his way to Vienna and Malmo, Sweden to continue. He has also conducted workshops in Brisbane where he now lives. (it is indeed a small world, he lives just minutes from our house in West End)

Ira will be conducting a workshop the last week in August and the first week of September, with a performance to follow in conjunction with the Art Festival. He was in town recently to look at suitable venues, and was delighted with what Bagni di Lucca has to offer. How lucky we are that someone of his calibre is involved with our very first Art Festival.

Check out his website…you will be impressed. www.iraseid.com

Top marks to Jaqueline and Jake for getting the festival off the ground. Everybody is invited to take part in whatever way possible…as an artist, helper, renovator or perhaps, most importantly as a spectator.

Please look at the Art Festival’s website and be involved in this exciting event in Bagni di Lucca.

http://www.artfestivalbagnidilucca.org

A question for you

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

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I have been asked to do a survey.

In past years in summer, part of the main street in La Villa is closed to traffic and the area in the centre becomes a pedestrian area. The restaurants put tables outside on the street and the area in front of the Circolo dei Forestieri becomes a fun place for people to sit to eat and for children to play safely without the worry of cars.

This photo was taken yesterday, so you need to imagine that the trees are green and there are flowers everywhere.

Some car parking spaces are lost when the street is closed, but there is more parking behind the town. There is a road that goes behind the main street, so traffic is not disrupted.

There has been some talk that the street closing may not happen this year because a few businesses are not in favour of it.

I think it is a great idea, but I would like to know what you think. Would you like to see the centre of La Villa become a pedestrian area for a couple of months in summer?

If so, what hours would you like to see the street closed. If not, what are your objections?

Whatever your opinion, please leave a comment below, or send me an email….debrakolkka@gmail.com

Rock art at Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Someone has created a piece of rock art in the river bed at Ponte a Serraglio.

I wonder how long it will last…not very long if this rain keeps up and the river rises again.

…I didn’t have long to wait to find out. I wrote this post last night and this morning I woke up to see the river had risen. I looked out of my window and saw that the rocks were still standing, but by the time I grabbed my camera and ran outside it had been washed away. I’m glad I took photos.

Bagni di Lucca cat does meerkat impersonation

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

We are cat sitting at the moment. Meet Tiggy May.

She has made herself at home and has decided that the view of the village from our window is fascinating. She spends hours watching the goings on from our couch.

Something happened which really appealed to her and she needed a higher vantage point.

The funny little thing stayed like this for quite some time, obviously enthralled by something, possibly birds flying past. How I wish she could talk so I could know what was going on in her little pussy head.