It’s snowing in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

It started snowing early this morning and it has continued all day. This doesn’t happen very often in Bagni di Lucca, so I went out walking around Ponte a Serraglio and up to Bagni Caldi to make the most of it. Come for a walk up the hill and back with me.

Some of these photos look black and white, but they aren’t. The snow became heavier as the day went on and while I was out walking a fog rolled in and the visibility became very poor.

The roads have been treacherous. The snow plough has had trouble keeping the road clear.

You don’t often see snow on palm trees.

There is not much use for these now.

This was as far up the hill as I went. I heard several trees cracking and falling under the weight of the snow, so I thought it was time to head home.

Le Torre disappeared completely from view seconds after this was taken.

It has been a beautiful day in Bagni di Lucca. Click here to see photos I took earlier in the day at Ponte a Serraglio.

If the roads become safe I will head to some of the other villages to see the snow there.

Winter

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

It is cold in Bagni di Lucca…it is the middle of winter after all.

The Lima River is full of water after recent rain and snow.

The ducks…including the white one and the goose…seem to be coping with the cold.

There is snow on the mountains around us.

…and we have been having some beautiful sunsets.

Winter is a lovely time to be in Bagni di Lucca.

The Demidoff Temple

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

The neo-classical building sits beside the lovely Camaione stream, which enters the nearby Lima River at Ponte a Serraglio.

The Demidoff Temple was built in 1831 by grateful Russian Prince, Nicolaj Demidoff, who was delighted to have his gout cured in the thermal waters of Bagni di Lucca. The round building with 4 pillars was designed by architect Giacomo Marracci. It followed the building in 1826 of the Demidoff Hospital, joined by a bridge to the temple. The hospital is now the Villaggio Globale, a holistic health centre.

Budding artists in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

On a wet weekend what could be better than gathering with friends to learn something about painting? Morena from Borgo degli Artisti offered her services over 2 afternoons to teach some local children at the studio in Ponte a Serraglio.

On the first day the children learned to mix colours, and about the colour spectrum.

On the second day the children learned about shading, and set about to paint a Christmas scene.

Some of the paintings will be framed and displayed in the gallery at Christmas time. I hope you will all come to Borgo degli Artisti at Ponte a Serraglio to see them.

Perhaps you can buy a painting before the artist becomes famous.

My favourite building in Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

We almost bought an apartment in this gorgeous building designed by Lucchese architect Giuseppe Pardini. The building was constructed in 1838 and once housed the prestigious Hotel de Russie.

The building has a colourful history. In 1904 – 1905 English writer Louise de la Ramee, better known as Ouida, stayed in the hotel. She is now buried in the English cemetery nearby. Click here to see more on the cemetery.

During WWII the building was occupied by the German army. There is a plaque on the wall beside the street to commemorate the 13 patriots who were imprisoned inside.

There are now 6 apartments here. I particularly love the balcony at the front of the building. The middle one was almost ours.

I would love to see the building renovated …….. but not too much.

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.

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 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

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

Tag Archives: Ponte a Serraglio