It has been reported that Villa Fiori in Ponte a Serraglio has been sold. It seems an English man will revive this lovely old building and turn it into a hotel.
It will be excellent to see the building saved. It has been fading fast in the last couple of years, especially after a tree fell on the roof.
I hope the diver in the garden can be saved. I love her. It has been awful seeing her disintegrate.
I wish the new owner the best! I can’t wait to see Villa Fiori alive again,
Simone, the young and passionate chef at La Ninfa is cooking up food the locals love. It is great to see the newly renovated hotel doing well. A local contact sent me some photos. I look forward to trying it when I return to Ponte a Serraglio in early 2025.
Call or email the hotel for more information…
Phone..+39 0583 1390033
Email…info@laninfahotel.com
Website…https://www.laninfahotelristorante.com
Ponte a Serraglio has lost its lovely fruit and vegetable shop. Piera and her husband have run the shop since 2018 and it has been a great addition to the piazza. I liked to see Piera’s happy face and I loved watching her children playing before they went to school. I will miss them.
They have begun a new venture in Dieciemo and I wish them the best.
We have also lost Giampaolo and Maria Laura Calissi who have sold the Bridge Hotel after decades in Ponte a Serraglio. The well dressed Giampaolo has always been a friendly face in the piazza. They have certainly earned their retirement. I hope they enjoy wonderful times with their family.
It is the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. I look forward to meeting the new owners and wish them every success.
Ponte a Serraglio has an excellent preloved homewares shop run by Auser. I am constantly surprised by the range and quality of the items on offer. The hand crocheted table cloth in the first photo is now mine.
The goods are all donated and the proceeds go to people who need a bit of help.
Here are the winter hours.
It is great to be back in beautiful Ponte a Serraglio, my little part of Bagni di Lucca. Come for a walk along the river.
Home for the next few weeks…how lovely.
This weekend in Bagni di Lucca…Saturday at the tennis club and Sunday at the Teatro Accademico.
The following weekend at the Casino in Ponte a Serraglio.
There is a new exhibition starting today at the Borgo degli Artisti gallery in Ponte a Serraglio.
The inauguration is today Saturday 7th September from 5.00pm until 7.30pm.
The inauguration of the first art exhibition at the newly regrouped Borgo degli Artisti was well attended. People spilled out onto the bridge on Sunday afternoon to see the work of local artists. It was great to see many familiar faces along with new people.
People were clearly enjoying themselves inside the gallery.
I wish I had been there to see the art up close.
Thank you to AnnBeth and Rita Gualtiera for the photos.
It is excellent to see the Borgo degli Artisti up and running again.
The exhibition continues until 24th August…5.00pm until 8.00pm each day.
I have been planting the flowers on the bridge in Ponte a Serraglio for many years. I love to see the bridge looking colourful and cheerful.
Keeping the flowers alive over the summer when I am back in Australia has been an ongoing problem. This year there has been a change. My lovely neighbours, Roberto and Donna have put a tap close to the bridge making it easier to water the flowers. Previously I had to carry watering cans from my apartment.
And this summer the flowers have someone to water and take care of them. A huge thank you to Peter Miller! The flowers are thriving and looking great.
Here he is in action.
I hope Peter will be around again next summer.
Here is a fabulous photo taken by Charmaine Birkett Botha of the flowers and the gorgeous view from the bridge.
At 5.00pm on Sunday 18th August the Borgo degli Artisti with celebrate the opening of the exhibit of local painters and sculptors. It will be held at the home of Borgo degli Artisti at Via Serraglia 7, Ponte a Serraglio. It is near the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio.
This is the first exhibition after a 6 year break.
The exhibition will run from 19th – 24th August, 5.00pm until 8.00pm each day.
Work will be shown by about 30 local painters and sculptors including Jenny McIntosh, Deenagh Miller, Dr Vito Valentino, who has always nourished his passion for art, Albert Beach, Gilberto Malerbi, Giuseppe Zago and more.
Borgo degli Artisti is a group formed to organise and promote artistic activities in Bagni di Lucca. It is great to see that they are back at work.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 