There is a new photography exhibition at La Rondine gallery in Ponte a Serraglio by Ella Haller Zwierzchowska. The young photograper’s colourful representations of India delighted visitors on the opening night last week.
The gallery was full of people having a great time.
Thank you Kerrie for photographing the event so we can all join in the fun.
I saw this gorgeous creature standing quietly and elegantly by the water at Ponte a Serraglio waiting for breakfast to pass by.
She was showing a complete lack of interest, but I’m sure if she had seen movement in the water she would have swooped quickly onto the unsuspecting fish.
After a while she moved away, perhaps she wasn’t hungry after all.
There is a heron nesting in a tree high above my house at Ponte a Serraglio. I wonder if it is this one. If so, she doesn’t have far to fly for breakfast.
Yes, I know this looks beautiful, the river has turned once again into a raging torrent and the trees are green, but enough of this rain!!! It has been pouring here for the last couple of days and it has become cold again. We need some sun to make the geraniums thrive.
This little fellow doesn’t appear to be too bothered by the wet. He was out this morning for a walk.
At least someone is happy about the rain.
The time has come to take the jaunty little pansies from the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio and replace them with geraniums for the summer. The pansies didn’t do very well this spring because of the constant rain, but they still managed to put on a good show.
Geraniums are wonderfully hardy and brighten up the bridge for the summer. Now that Wendy and Darren are taking care of them they are doing especially well. The flowers are tough, but they do like a bit of water and fertiliser occasionally.
We are very excited that Bagni di Lucca will host its very first Art Festival this summer.
It would be great if everyone put in an extra effort with their flowers this year…plant an extra pot of geraniums, or petunias, or roses…anything really. Nothing makes a place look prettier than flowers tumbling from every space. What a beautiful way to welcome visitors to the town.
The festival organisers would love some potted plants to decorate the newly renovated shops where the artists will have their studios along the street at Ponte a Serraglio. If you have a spare pot or some plants please email Jaqueline at artfestivalbagnidilucca@gmail.com. All donations will be gratefully received.
The shops are almost complete and looking teriffic. I will take some photos soon to show you what a marvelous job the volunteers have done.
La Festa della Colombina…the festival of the little dove…is to be held on 19th May in the beautiful Villa Fiori Park in Ponte a Serraglio.
There was a tradition in the late 1800s to bake bread in the shape of a dove and serve it in the Ponte a Serraglio cafes. There will be an opportunity to taste Colombina in the park along with other treats.
Stalls selling local products will be there and you will be able to join in games from the time of our grandparents…adults and children together.
For a small fee it will be possible to paint your own Colombina…a small statuette designed by Maureen Halson. Here are 2 we prepared earlier.
I walked past the Villa Fiori Park a little while ago and the gardener was there preparing the park for us. I hope you will all come from about 10.00am on Sunday 19th May for what I am sure will be a fun day. There is lots of parking beside the Park.
As well as this, on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May the Croce Rossa Italiana, (Red Cross) Bagni di Lucca branch, will be presenting a health care information event.
It is to be held in the piazza in front of the Circolo dei Forestieri from 3.00pm – 6.30pm on Saturday and on Sunday from 10.00am – 1.00pm and 3.00pm – 6.30pm. It is free of charge. I think everyone should attend this…I’m sure we would all like to lead healthy lives.
From now until 18th May check what is happening at Teatro Accademico. The School Theatre Festival, which has been running for 20 years is on over the next few weeks, with performances by local school children. To see more about this step over to From London to Longoio.
I had a small complaint recently that I only talk about events after they have happened. It is not always easy to know what is going on in the area. I try to keep my eyes and ears open, but often things are not all that well publicised.
If you are organising and event, or know of something happening, and you would like to me to talk about it, please email me at debrakolkka@gmail.com and I will do my best to write about it on the blog.
I think Ponte a Serraglio looks beautiful in any weather. I love the wet, misty days… they have their own beauty.
But when the sun shines Ponte a Serraglio comes to life. We have had far too many wet days this year. Spring is late coming, but there a finally signs that is on its way.
Canoeists and rafters are appearing in the river.
And there are flowers everywhere.
With a bit of luck our run of crummy weather is behind us and we can enjoy the delights of spring…better late than never.
Morena Guarnaschelli, a prominent member of Borgo degli Artisti, has a lovely exhibition of her paintings in a gorgeous salon in Terme di Bagni di Lucca at Bagni Caldi, above Ponte a Serraglio.
Surely this room is one of the most beautiful secrets in Bagni di Lucca.
The walls and ceiling are covered with delightful frescoes.
I particularly liked the birds decorating the ceiling.
Morena’s exhibition is on until the 28th April. Don’t miss it…and take the time to look at the beautiful salon.
Bagni di Lucca is set to host a brand new Art Festival this summer. In the sunny months of July, August and September Ponte a Seraglio will be filled with performance artists, painters, sculptors and photographers.
Meet part of the organizing team.
From the left…Jaqueline, Ira, our Sindaco Dottore Betti and Jake.
With the help of our Sindaco (mayor), our beautiful venues, such as the Teatro Accademico, the Casino, the Sala Parrocchiale and others will be filled with exciting performance artists. Click here to see more on the Casino and here for the Teatro Accademico.
As well as this, artists will be able to display their collections of art work in some of the unused shops in the main street of Ponte a Serraglio at no cost. One of the best aspects of this is that the local people are getting involved in the clean up and renovation of these lovely shops, some of which have been empty for decades.
It is absolutely wonderful to see people working together to make the village more beautiful and to provide a welcome space for the artists.
A particularly exciting part if the festival will be provided by the very talented (and charming) Ira Seidenstein. Ira has been involved in the theatre since 1973 as an actor, director, playwright and choreographer. He also has extensive experience in clown theatre. Among other things he has worked with the world renowned Cirque du Soleil as a performer and teacher.
It is in his capacity as a teacher that he will be involved in the Art Festival. Ira has conducted workshops in London, Paris, Auckland , Barcelona and is now on his way to Vienna and Malmo, Sweden to continue. He has also conducted workshops in Brisbane where he now lives. (it is indeed a small world, he lives just minutes from our house in West End)
Ira will be conducting a workshop the last week in August and the first week of September, with a performance to follow in conjunction with the Art Festival. He was in town recently to look at suitable venues, and was delighted with what Bagni di Lucca has to offer. How lucky we are that someone of his calibre is involved with our very first Art Festival.
Check out his website…you will be impressed. www.iraseid.com
Top marks to Jaqueline and Jake for getting the festival off the ground. Everybody is invited to take part in whatever way possible…as an artist, helper, renovator or perhaps, most importantly as a spectator.
Please look at the Art Festival’s website and be involved in this exciting event in Bagni di Lucca.
Someone has created a piece of rock art in the river bed at Ponte a Serraglio.
I wonder how long it will last…not very long if this rain keeps up and the river rises again.
…I didn’t have long to wait to find out. I wrote this post last night and this morning I woke up to see the river had risen. I looked out of my window and saw that the rocks were still standing, but by the time I grabbed my camera and ran outside it had been washed away. I’m glad I took photos.
This Saturday 23rd February there will be 2 guided walks around Bagni di Lucca. The first will start in the piazza at Ponte a Serraglio at 10.00am and will be lead by Paolo Moschino. There will be a short walk to introduce the village and will include commentary on the art and history of our lovely Ponte a Serraglio.
The second walk will begin in La Villa at the Parco Contessa Casalini at 15.30.
Don’t worry, the snow has melted now, but I couldn’t resist posting more of my snow photos.
The commentary will be in Italian, but everyone is invited to join in.
Please call 3338893108 or 3407806967 for more details.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 