Because of the forecast for rain on Sunday 1st December the Presepe Vivente in Pieve di Monte di Villa is postponed until Sunday 8th December. Let’s hope the weather improves.
Presepe Vivente postponed
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Tag Archives: Pieve di Monti di Villa
Rifugio Fiori
Rifugio Fiori in Pieve di Monti di Villa has new operators and things are looking good. We went for Sunday lunch shortly after they opened.
It was a little cool to sit outside.
So we found a spot in the cosy room.
The building used to be a school.
Antipasti was pasta fritta with prosciutto.
Our first course was pasta with ragu.
Next was delicious veal and fried vegetables.
There was an excellent chocolate cake and torta della nonna.
It is great to see that Rifugio Fiori is continuing to serve delicious meals. Pieve di Monte di Villa is lucky to have this great asset.
Phone…371 3916108
info@rifugiofiori.it
Presepe in Pieve di Monti di Villa
The living nativity in Pieve di Monti di Villa was a great success. Lots of people attended and got into the spirit of things. I was unable to attend as I am currently in Australia, but luckily my friends Teri and Charlotte were there and took some photos.
Valerio Ceccarelli also captured the event.
It is wonderful to see so many people take part and to see a crowd of people enjoying the event. These local festivals are a delightful part of life in the villages of Bagni di Lucca…long may they continue.
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.
Autumn in Pieve di Monti di Villa
Local photographer Paul Anthony Davies has taken some lovely photos of autumn in Pieve di Monti di Villa. He has kindly allowed me to share them with you.
Pieve di Monti di Villa has a restaurant, Rifugio Fiori, which is open part time.
It also has a bar, a great addition to the village.
Autumn is a gorgeous season in the mountain villages.
Don’t miss the living navity in Pieve di Monti di Villa on 4th December. It is a wonderful event.
Lunch and a spring walk from Rifugio Fiori
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.
A walk through Pieve di Monti di Villa
Spring is the perfect time to wander through the lovely villages that make up Bagni di Lucca. Pieve di Monte di Villa is 476 metres above sea level and it offers great views over the surrounding mountains and valleys. Take the road from Ponte a Serraglio, through Granaiola and on to Pieve di Monte di Villa.
Pieve di Monti di Villa has about 100 hundred residents who obviously take great pride in their village. The houses and gardens are beautifully kept, making a walk through the tiny, winding lanes a delight…come for a walk with me, starting at the bar at the top of the town.
The views from the top are spectacular.
The little streets meander through the village. Some of them are quite steep.
The church of San Giovanni Battista was built in the 12th century, rebuilt in 1446 and remodelled between 1760 and 1766.
If you come to Bagni di Lucca, take the time to wander through the mountain villages…each one has something different to offer.
A bright yellow field
A bright yellow field in Pieve di Monti di Villa told us that spring is on the way. This was last week.
This week the cold has returned and there is snow on the mountains behind Bagni di Lucca…still beautiful.
Meet Oriano and Pina from Pieve di Monti di Villa
We met 2 of Pieve di Monti di Villa’s hundred or so inhabitants when we were trying to raid a cherry tree on the side of the road.
Oriano appeared and with his trusty umbrella he pulled a branch down for us.
Soon his wife Pina joined us and told us a little about their pretty village. Oriano was born in the village and Pina was born in Genova. She was sent to Pieve as a child during the war. She found Genova a little noisy when she went back and eventually settled in the village and met Oriano.
Many of the residents moved away to America, Australia and Canada in tough times in the 20th century. People are slowly coming back to enjoy the peaceful mountain life.
Come for a walk through the village to see why.
The church dedicated to St Julia was built in the 12th century, rebuilt in 1446 and remodelled between 1760 and 1766. Only the apse belongs to the original structure.
The narrow streets wind slowly down the side of the mountain.
There are some lovely old doorways.
And some interesting locking devices.
Things grow well in Pieve.
There are lovely details.
There is a pretty bar, which wasn’t open the afternoon we were there. Another visit is needed.
We spotted a small resident out for a walk.
Wandering through the villages of Bagni di Lucca is delightful…especially when you get to meet lovely people like Oriano and Pina.
In every village I have been to I have met people who have been happy to stop and have a chat. Don’t be afraid to say Buongiorno, you never know where it may lead.
