I am now back home in Brisbane for a while. I was unable to attend the crossbow event on Sunday in Bagni di Lucca, but our friend Sheila was there and took some great photos for us.
The competion was held in the Contessa Casalini Park this year and the balestrieri dressed up in their best for a great day of crossbow. Here is some of the fun.
Francis from London to Longoio and Beyond has more on the day.
We are now heading back home to Brisbane for a few months to enjoy our lovely winter.
It it is always difficult to leave Bagni di Lucca, especially now when it is looking so beautiful.
The Tiglio trees have their blossoms and walking under one is a delight, the smell is heavenly. Don’t park you car under one however, they leave a sticky mess.
Our petunias are looking great.
Tina’s roses are flourishing.
My window boxes are doing well.
Big white magnolias are everywhere.
The geraniums on the bridge are growing slowly.
There are early morning fishermen in the river.
I have a couple of helpers this year to keep me up to date on happenings in Bagni di Lucca and I have lots of photos to share with you while I am away.
If any of you are passing the flowers on the bridge or the hanging pots, stick your finger in the dirt and if it is dry grab a water bottle, fill it up (there is a tap beside Bar Italia, or the tap at Cova, near the walking bridge) and water the plants…they will love you for it.
I love the archery completion held each year in Bagni di Lucca. The competitors dress in medieval costume and fire up their crossbows for a day of competition and fun. It is great to watch.
This year it will be held in Contessa Casalini Park in La Villa, Bagni di Lucca, instead of Villa Ada. I really liked it in the gorgeous grounds of Villa Ada, but it will be more accessible in the park in the centre of town.
Here are some photos from previous years.
I am sorry I won’t be here this year to see it, but you should all make sure you are there.
On Saturday evening La Rondine in Ponte a Serraglio introduced a new exhibition in the gallery. Photographer Richard Smukler is now showing his work.
Our illustrious mayor opened the proceedings and introduced the artist.
Lots of people attended to admire the work.
There was music.
Francis recited a poem.
Midway during the evening we enjoyed a procession along the street.
…and back again.
It was a great evening, the first of many for the summer season. There is always something happening at Ponte a Serraglio.
Thanks to some friends we discovered a wonderful restaurant at nearby Piano Di Giovano called Cappuccetto Rosso.
The restaurant is stylish and pretty and the menu very interesting. The food is a little more expensive than most in the area, but it is excellent and well worth the extra money.
For antipasti we shared a plate of delicious prosciutto and a selection of very well chosen cheeses with tasty accompaniments.
We had already chosen dessert, so missed primi piatti, which are charmingly called Early Earth and Early Sea. Here are our scrumptious main courses. Soft lighting doesn’t always make for the best photos, a couple are a bit fuzzy.
For dolce we chose chocolate mousse with pear, and mint parfait with chocolate sauce…both excellent.
Cappuccetto Rosso means Red Riding Hood…we will be back often.
Via di Salita 4/6 (Behind Quadrifoglio)
Localita Piano di Gioviano (Borgo a Mozzano)
(39) 338 2426295
Spring is the perfect time to visit the villages of Bagni di Lucca. I had only been to Monti di Villa once, so I thought it was time to go back. This is Monti di Villa from Granaiola…right in the middle of the photo.
Come for a walk with me through Monti di Villa. There is a car park at the base of the village and an easy path up.
There are some pretty gardens to admire.
Spring flowers were in full bloom.
I loved the garden decorations.
The old doors always fascinate me.
There are some amazing views from Monti di Villa, even on a hazy day.
On a warm spring afternoon it is easy to fall asleep after lunch.
I walked along the ridge which is the highest part of Monti di Villa. From here you can look back across the village.
I met a friendly local who showed me a lovely green path.
She also pointed me in the direction of a lower path back to the car park. It was lined with wild flowers and covered by an oak canopy…what a gorgeous place to walk.
…and another place to admire the view.
Monti di Villa…one of the lovely villages that make up Bagni di Lucca.
A while ago guest poster Belinda took us on a walk from Ponte a Serraglio to Pieve di Monti di Villa to lunch at Rifugio Fiori.
I’m not much interested in walking up steep hills, so I decided to do it in reverse. Three of us got a lift up to Pieve di Monti di Villa to the lunch spot. It was a gorgeous day, so we happily sat outside.
…just as well, it was crowded inside.
We ordered the mixed grill…very good….and the torta della Nonna.
We were advised to take the gentle track down to Ponte a Serraglio. We headed off up the road a bit and took the road down to the church. It is always good to walk through Pieve di Monti di Villa.
Beside the church we found the track towards Ponte a Serraglio.
It was a bit overgrown, but not too bad.
In many places there was a rock path lined with wild flowers and gorgeous spring flowering trees.
We passed some old gates. There must have been a sizeable house here once.
We also passed some dry stone walls, no doubt part of the same property.
We walked under a gorgeous oak tree.
We passed a stream and a little waterfall.
Some of the time we walked on the road because the path was too overgrown, but that was good too.
Soon we came to the crossroad where the road goes to Riolo.
We passed the overgrown church.
We wandered down past the old chairlift. I would love to see this operating.
Lots of people were enjoying themselves at Villagio Globale.
Just before we reached the river we passed a wall of wildflowers.
Finally we arrived at Ponte. If you want to do the uphill walk, look for this sign opposite the walking bridge.
If you are looking for a great walk, this could be the one for you. You walk under the cover of the forest most of the way, so it is not too hot. The downhill walk is easy and the views are gorgeous.
Click here to see the winter walk.
Our little garden group at Ponte a Serraglio has purchased 10 new hanging pots for the lamp posts along the street beside the river. We have planted petunias. I hope they do well.
We are always interested in help to water the plants on the bridge and now in the hanging pots. I am not here in summer, so it is up to others to keep the plants alive and thriving…and Ponte a Serraglio looking beautiful.
If you walk past and see them looking droopy, grab a bottle and give them some water. We are working on having a a tap beside the bridge. I will let you know about that one.
The pots we planted at Villa Fiori are doing well. I replaced the stolen lavender and it will soon catch up to its mates.
It seems the Giro d’Italia has just whizzed past and another iconic road race came to Ponte a Serraglio. The beautiful Mille Miglia included Bagni di Lucca on its way to Parma for the night on the third leg of the race.
The weather was a bit ordinary for the beginning of the race, but there were plenty of spectators to welcome the cars through our little piazza. The first to arrive were the new, fast sports cars…Ferrari, Maserati and Mercedes Benz, etc.
Their engines roared as they sped off past the piazza through the narrow street up to La Villa.
The beautiful old cars were hot on their heels…to everyone’s delight. Here are just some of the gorgeous vintage vehicles.
Massimo joined in with his Lazzi bus.
The Caribinieri kept everyone in check. ( Except for the idiot who stopped their car in the narrow street, put their hazard lights on, left their doors wide open and unloaded their shopping.)
Our own Francis Pettitt was there in his wonderful old Fiat Cinquecento…not officially of course, he was on his way home to Longoio…but he got a big cheer anyway.
The weather did get better as the race went on and it was a beautiful evening in Ponte a Serraglio.
Things may seem a little quiet around here for a while.
Take a look at Bagni di Lucca and Beyond for more cars.
The Giro d’Italia is a big event in Italy. There was great excitement in Bagni di Lucca today…the race came right through our villages.
My balcony provided an excellent vantage point to watch it all unfold. Our little piazza at Ponte a Serraglio was packed with people waving flags and waiting for the cyclists to appear.
Sponsors’ cars sped through first.
The first bikes appeared after endless official vehicles.
The crowds were waiting to cheer them on.
A little while later the bigger group of cyclists appeared along the river.
Here are some photos from the bar, thanks to Belinda.
A helicopter flew overhead to follow the proceedings.
More official vehicles brought up the rear.
…and it was all over. The whole event went through Ponte a Serraglio in a matter of minutes, but it was great fun and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
Go to Bagni di Lucca and Beyond for a bit more on the race.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 