The lovely little theatre in La Villa was modelled on La Scala in Milan…..on a much smaller scale of course.
The interior is very pretty.
It is similar to La Scala in that it is the same circular shape. Here is a look at the original.
It would be a really good idea if the Bagni di Lucca theatre was open occasionally to show visitors the interior. There are often concerts held there…check with the information office for productions.
I have spent 6 months in Bagni di Lucca this year. I have been to most of the villages that make up our community. Here is a look back over the year.
I arrived in February 2012 to very cold weather. There had been heavy snow in early February and there was still a little left when I arrived.
The edges of the river in front of my house froze.
I love winter in Bagni di Lucca, but when spring arrives it is magical.
There was some late snow in the mountains.
As the weather warmed up I had a great time visiting the mountain villages.
Sunset in Casabasciana.
The beginning of spring in Fornoli.
Montefegatesi in the spring sunshine.
A doorway in Granaiola.
Colle shines in the spring sun.
The pansies on the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio look cheerful.
The memorial for the fallen patriots in La Villa.
Geese in Longoio out for a walk.
Early morning at Ponte a Serraglio.
Looking down on Ponte a Serraglio.
Pears ripening in the spring sun.
The view from Bagni Caldi.
Early summer in Lugliano.
The view from upper Vico Pancellorum.
Picking cherries in Pieve di Monti di Villa.
Decorating the piazza in Brandeglio.
The gorgeous pool in La Villa.
The archery competition in La Villa.
Summer geraniums.
The beginning of autumn.
Grapevines near Longoio.
Lucchio appearing between the trees.
Chestnut time.
Autumn at the old station in Fornoli.
Porcini mushroom time.
The first snow of the season.
I left just as heavy rain began to fall in Bagni di Lucca.
My favourite post of the year was about Renzo, a shepherd we met tending his sheep. I love these chance encounters with Bagni di Lucca locals. Most are happy to take the time to talk about their lives in this gorgeous part of the world.
The most popular post was the one called Meet Emilio Ferrari. The post was Freshly Pressed ( featured by WordPress) early in the year. Emilio and his lovely wife Alfa (they drive a Fiat) has been read by thousands of people all over the world.
I will be back in Bagni di Lucca soon…..can’t wait.
Lots of fun things have been happening in Bagni di Lucca for Christmas. I am in sunny Australia now, but luckily for us Morena from Borgo degli Artisti has been taking photos of events around town.
There has been a presepe exhibition at the Circolo dei Forestieri in La Villa. Bagni di Lucca has a history of making presepe…nativity scenes.
An old mould is on display to show how the statues are made.
A couple of wonderful old paintings are included in the exhibition.
A special presepe has been created by Fontanini, a local company still making presepe, and is in place on the balcony of Circolo dei Forestieri.
The exhibition will be on display for another couple of weeks…go upstairs at the Circolo dei Forestieri if you are in the area.
A wonderful event took place in the area in front of Circolo dei Forestieri with the making of an enormous necci. The fires were lit.
The giant pans were put in place.
The necci batter was spread on the pan.
The top of the pan was put on and heat applied.
Soon the necci was ready to eat.
I can’t tell you how much I wish I had been there for this. I love it when the whole community gets involved.
Paula Chesterman has been busy organising a choir and with the help of enthusiastic locals, an hour of hymns and readings from the bible took place the other night.
Mulled wine and mince pies were served afterwards…well deserved.
The choir will meet again in March. Click here for more information.
Morena has been busy with the children of the village with a workshop on elf making. The children then designed a ‘mailart’ envelope with stamp and letters were written to Santa. The best 5 envelopes will awarded on 5th January at the theatre in La Villa.
![4752_10151264678234691_725687526_n[1]-Elves](https://bellabagnidilucca.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/4752_10151264678234691_725687526_n1-elves.jpg?w=584 "Bagni di Lucca artists")
Thank you Morena for being roving reporter for the blog and sharing wonderful local activities with us.
Merry Christmas to all the followers of Bella Bagni di Lucca. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
Thank you for following Bella Bagni di Lucca. Perhaps I will see you in our lovely village one day.
I will be back in Bagni di Lucca soon to gather more photos and stories to share with you. If there is anything you would particularly like to see, let me know, and I will do my best to track it down.
Legend has it that Cocciglia was built on land owned by a Roman settler named Cocilius. Only about 80 people now live in the village. It was once an important fortified town which guarded the road leading to Controneria, further up the mountain.
There is a short road to the village from the Brennero Road. On the way is a small church with an impressive bell tower.
The village comes into view just around the corner from the church.
There is also a view across to Pallegio.
There is a walking path opposite the church which appears to lead to the village above.
I took the easy option and drove up the road to the tiny parking area just outside Cocciglia. Come for a walk through the little village.
The church is right at the top of the village.
This is the stone over the door to the church.
On the way up to the church is this quaint statue.
I found the next colourful image on the front of a house.
I saw no people on my walk, but the village is obviously lived in. There are pretty gardens and the houses are in good repair.
The village is no longer isolated, but I can’t help thinking about the lives of people who lived here centuries ago. This place is tiny and life must have been tough. I hope the residents from the past occasionally had time to sit back and enjoy the view.
Pallegio has ancient origins. It was once a fortified stronghold guarding the Controneria area nearby. The village is not far from the Brennero Road towards Abetone.
It is a sleepy little village with 132 inhabitants. Come for a wander with me.
Like all of Bagni di Lucca’s mountain villages, there are wonderful views.
The narrow streets have many delights.
Soon it is back to the car park and time to say goodbye to Pallegio.
On the way back to the Brennero I found a road to the left and found what I think is the oratory of S.Maria della Quercia.
A little further on is a lovely wooded area and I found another renovator’s delight……there is a never ending supply of them in these parts.
Can you see yourself getting to work on this one?
Chestnuts have been an important part of the diet in the Appenine and Apuan regions in northern Tuscany for centuries. Particularly in times of war and famine, chestnuts saved people from starvation.
Necci are a type of pancake made from chestnut flour. They are simply made by mixing chestnut flour with water (250 grams of flour to 1 cup water). The batter is mixed until smooth and slightly thicker than a normal crepe batter.
Each area has a slightly different recipe. Sometimes a little oil and salt is added, or rosemary.
There are several ways to cook the necci. At a couple of chestnut festivals I have seen them cooked between 2 cast iron discs with long handles over a flame. A little olive oil is placed on the flat disc and spread with a potato cut in half, then a small quantity of batter is placed on the disc and spread thinly, and the other disc is put on top. It isn’t as easy as it sounds, you need just the right amount of oil and heat or the pancake sticks to the disc and makes a horrible mess.
Once browned on both side they are spread with ricotta or nutella and rolled up…and eaten.
At a food festival in Lucca we saw a very interesting way of cooking necci. The batter was placed on hot, flat stones covered with chestnut leaves and stacked on top of each other.
This method also proved to be effective, and delicious.
Look for necci at food festivals in the area, or if you are in Lucca, go to Via Buia and look for Pizza da Felice where you can buy necci, along with delicious pizza and cecina, the chickpea pancakes popular in the area.
Click here to see a gorgeous chestnut festival in Colognora and here for an equally fabulous one in Lupinaia.
The road to Riolo is one of my least favourite in Bagni di Lucca. It is extremely narrow and winding, with little room to pass if you happen to come across another car. The entrance to the village is also narrow. I suggest parking in the area at the bottom of the village and walking up.
The sign at the entrance to the village suggests a low speed. I think this would be too fast.
The village is a pretty collection of houses, with some lovely decoration, and of course, there are wonderful views from the village. Like all of the villages of Bagni di Lucca Riolo has something different and special to offer visitors.
On the way back to the car I spotted a tiny mouse. The photo is a bit blurry, but the mouse was very small and in a hurry to get away from me.
I have heard that the road to Riolo was badly damaged in the recent heavy rains. I hope everything will be back to normal soon.
Patrizia runs the wonderful fruit and vegetable shop in La Villa. She will select the best produce for you. Ask her for the perfect melon for lunch and she will find it. Which oranges are the best for juice…..she will tell you. Which peaches are ready to eat now…..she knows.
Look for her shop in the centre of La Villa, opposite the tiny piazza in Via Umberto1.
Autumn is chestnut gathering time in the Garfagnana. I went with Heather from Sapori-e-Saperi to visit the chestnut forest and metato (drying hut) belonging to Bruno Bertoncini in the Garfagnana, the mountain area near Bagni di Lucca.
Bruno’s chestnut forest is beautiful, and it shows what the cultivated chestnut forest looked like. These days they are mostly wild and not cleared as they used to be. Obviously if the trees are cared for they will give better chestnuts.
It has been a difficult growing season this year. Some of Bruno’s trees have blossomed 3 times instead of just once, as they should.
This tree has new growth and flowers at a time when the fruit should be ripe….strange.
There are many types of chestnuts, some are better for flour, some have better keeping qualities and some are good for roasting.
Before chestnuts can be ground to make flour they need to be dried. Bruno has a gorgeous metato which was busy drying chestnuts when we arrived. The nuts are dried for about 40 days. The fire has to be kept burning at just the right temperature for all this time.
The fire burns on the ground floor of the hut and the chestnuts are above the fire on a slatted floor.
The delightful Bruno told us lots of interesting things about chestnuts. He is a man who clearly enjoys his work.
The trees are pruned regularly. Here is a tree which has been pruned and has regrown.
I think Bruno has a delightful office. I’m sure the work is not easy, but imagine going to work here each day.
Bruno has a wonderful agriturismo called Collettino, near his chestnut forest where guests can stay in comfort and immerse themselves in this beautiful area.
And now for a few more chestnut photos.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 