Circolo dei Forestieri

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Circolo dei Forestieri doesn’t mean “circle of forest workers”. It was the Foreigners’ Club years ago. The building was rebuilt in 1924 over an existing 18th century structure. It was the meeting place of visitors to Bagni di Lucca and used for gambling until 1936.

It is now a restaurant. There is a lovely big dining room inside and in summer there is outdoor dining in front of the restaurant and a delightful terrace at the back, with pretty views over the river.

Although it looks quite grand the food is very reasonably priced……and very good. I photographed my own delicious food and the lovely people at the next table kindly let me take theirs as well.

That was my caprese salad and the bread that came with it was hot from the oven.

A lemon sorbet arrived between courses.

Say hello to Giovanni and Sabina…..and have a great meal.

www.circolodeiforestieri.it

PS. Unfortunately Circolo dei Forestieri has closed. Is there anyone out there who would like to run a restaurant in Bagni di Lucca??? It would be great to see someone take it over and bring it to life again.

Many years ago the Circolo dei Forestieri was surrounded by huge trees. Fortunately the new ones are growing.

The chestnut festival at Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

The annual chestnut festival hosted by the Gruppo Alpini and the Borgo Artisti was held on Sunday in the lovely park beside Villa Fiori. It was a gorgeous autumn day and the chestnuts were roasting.

In times of famine and in the lean years after WWII chestnuts formed an important part of the local diet……they deserve to be celebrated.

As well as roasted chestnuts, necci (chestnut pancakes) were served with ricotta, sausage or nutella. The pancakes are cooked between 2 flat pans over a flame.

There was also pasta fritta….pasta dough deep fried and salted…..too delicious for words.

There was a small collection of chestnut memorabilia, including a wonderful old photo of men dehusking chestnuts.

And the stomping shoes.

There was a tiny chestnut cottage made by one of the local artists.

There was art in the park.

And some very concentrated pumpkin painting.

It was a fun day……don’t miss these local events.

Vetteglia

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Vetteglia is a tiny hamlet in the San Cassiano area of Bagni di Lucca. 37 people live here. I think they were all having an afternoon nap the day I visited the village. I enjoyed a lovely walk in the afternoon sun.

The village is dominated the imposing Pratofiorito, where you can still see the Ravi del Pratofiorito (landslides) which destroyed the hamlets of Celle and Cerro.

There are great views across to neighbouring San Cassiano.

And to the villages on the other side of the valley.

The village is a jumble of well kept houses, pretty gardens and small fruit and vegetable plots.

The last of the peaches and pears for the season.

I almost missed this grey cat in his grey corner.

There are a few renovator’s delights to be seen.

Some perfectly stacked wood piles waiting for winter.

A perfect garden shed.

A pretty little church.

And it is only 40 minutes walk to San Gemignano.

Another day…. For me it was back to the top of the village for a last look across the tiny piazza at the top and back to my car.

Festa della Castagna…….in Villa Fiori Park

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

The annual Chestnut Festival…..Festa della Castagna, will be held this Sunday 7th October in the park beside Villa Fiori at Ponte a Serraglio.

The local Alpini group will be providing roasted chestnuts and delicious necci. Last year I recall they served some excellent pasta fritta as well.

There will be several stands selling arts and crafts and there will be painting and drawing for children, provided by the Borgo degli Artisti.

Festivities will begin at 10.00am. Don’t miss what is sure to be a fun day.

9 handsome men on Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

This group of handsome fellows gathered for a photograph on the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio 50 years ago.

In the back row from the left……Roberto Calistri, Aldo Berni, Umberto Lenzini, Liliano Saivetti and Benito

In the front….Vito Lorenzelli, Sandro Fazzi, Renzo Moschino and Amelio Bianchi.

Some are no longer with us, some have moved away…..but I found 2 handsome chaps still here.

On the left is Vito Lorenzelli and to his right is Roberto Calistri.

Vito happily showed me the original photo and gave me the names. I will need to be reminded of Benito’s cognome. Vito is now back in Scotland, where he lives for most of the year. I see Roberto regularly at the Ponte with his delightful granddaughter Agnese, my favourite little Ponte person.

A weekend of fun and Pinocchio in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

La Villa, the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca, hosted a charming festival on the weekend. The fun activities were inspired by the stories of Pinocchio, which were written in the nearby village of Collodi.

There were stalls selling Pinocchio articles, arts and crafts, food (of course), games and activities for children and street performers.

Patrizia’s fruit shop with a few extra goodies.

Ilario from Del Sonno cooks up a storm.

What I loved the most was seeing children joining in a having fun doing simple things…… not a computer game in sight.

It was a good excuse for the adults to dress up and have some fun too.

Even a princess needs to eat.

If you are really lucky, you will happen upon one of these delightful local festivals when you are in Italy….bring a costume just in case.

A Ponte a Serraglio sunset

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

The weather has been beautiful for the last few days. We had a bit of rain, which we needed and the days are becoming cooler. The sunset this evening was spectacular.

This morning at Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

The sun has just hit my balcony and it is going to be a beautiful day…..again.

The first photo was taken from my balcony and the rest from the bridge below. I think you can see why I love it here.

It has been a long, hot summer. The river is low and things are not as green as usual. Autumn will soon be here to turn the leaves gold……lovely.

Villaggio Globale

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

One of the reasons people come to Bagni di Lucca is to ‘take the waters’. The area has been popular for centuries for the health giving properties of the mineral springs in the area.

Villaggio Globale is one of the establishments catering to the needs of health seekers from all over the world.

It is in a beautiful setting beside a stream in Ponte a Serraglio. The charming Demidoff temple is beside the main building.

The original Demidoff Hospital was meant for the poor and was built by architect Piero Ruelle in 1825. It was the initiative of the Russian Prince Nicolai Demidoff, who wanted to reward the village for the benefit he achieved from the thermal waters of Bagni di Lucca.

The little bridge was commissioned in 1837 to architect Giuseppe Pardini by Anatolio Demidoff, son of Nicolai.

Today the Villaggio Globale is an International Holistic Centre offering therapies including thermal baths, Ayurvedic treatments, Shiatsu massage and Reiki treatment.

The centre is always busy on weekends….the car park overflows….something must be working. http://www.global village-it.com

Click here for a review of Villagio Globale

The Anglican cemetery gets a makeover

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

On Saturday 8th September there was a small ceremony to celebrate the restoration of the Anglican cemetery in Bagni di Lucca.

The cemetery was opened in 1842. Henry and Elizabeth Stisted obtained permission from Carlo Lodovico, Prince of Lucca, to build an Anglican church and a Cemetery of Anglican rite for the British community living in Bagni di Lucca at the time.

There are 139 people buried in the cemetery. Appropriately, Henry and Elizabeth Stisted have their final resting place there. Evangelina Whipple settled in Bagni di Lucca in 1912 and worked to help the families of refugees and was called to the front in WWI. She wrote a book about Bagni di Lucca…A famous corner of Tuscany. She died in London, but wanted to be buried next to her friends in her adopted home.

There are several other well known names buried in the cemetery, including Rose Cleveland, the sister of US President Stephen Grover Cleveland and Ouida, a famous novelist.

Quite a large crowd gathered for the celebration, many of whom had never been to the cemetery before. Work has begun on the resoration. Rows of cypress trees have been planted to replace the original plantings. The grass has been cut and the overgrowth removed and some of the tombstones have been cleaned.

Visitors sign a book to commemorate the opening.

Local historian Dottore Cherubini and our mayor Dottore Betti spoke at length on the importance of the cemetery and the need for the restoration to be completed.

A large crowd attended the celebration.

Some of the sites have been cleaned….but there are many more in need of restoration.

Henry Stisted’s grave.

The grave of Louise de La Ramee, known as Ouida. Her tomb was made by sculptor Luigi Lucchese Norfini.

I actually liked the graves as they were, but I do understand that some would deteriorate without restoration. I think it is wonderful that people care enough about Bagni di Lucca’s history to take care of it in this way.

I did a post last year about the cemetery last year on Bagni di Lucca and Beyond. Click here to see the cemetery before the restoration had begun.

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

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