A wonderful group of volunteers has got together to renovate the tired railing along the river in Ponte a Serraglio. Money raised from two events at the casino earlier this year was used for materials. Now the volunteers have stepped in to do the work.
The old sign beside the bridge has also been cleaned.
Thank you to all the workers!
Our lovely friend Tina Birri has died. She was a huge part of our lives in Ponte a Serraglio. She was one of the first people I met when we arrived to set up our apartment 20 years ago.
She helped us navigate our new lives in Italy and we would have been lost without her advice. She guided us through official things which are still a mystery all these years later.
She also helped me to learn Italian. I used to have dinner with her and her (now my) friend Rina each night at Marco’s restaurant. I used what little Italian I had as Rina doesn’t speak English. When I got stuck Tina finished my sentences for me.
Tina spoke English with a Bronx accent. She was born in New York. Her father died when she was young and her mother brought her to the family home in Ponte a Serraglio when she was 12. She told me many wonderful stories of her early life in Ponte.
A favourite story is of a relative who lived next door to her. He bought the first car in Ponte a Serraglio, a Fiat bambino. He used to drive it down to the bar in the piazza, a distance of about 50 metres. He had to show off his new vehicle.
She had lots of stories of the hard times after the war and how Bagni di Lucca became prosperous slowly. She told me of the businesses that flourished in the 60s and 70s and of the later decline. I am happy to have spent lots of time with her to learn about this lovely village and the people in it.
Tina liked to sit at Bar Italia and enjoy a limoncello or two. She had lots of friends there and was always ready for a chat.
She worked until very recently in an office that helped people sort out official difficulties, it is not only foreigners who struggle. She loved her job and it gave her a good reason to get out and about.
She died after a fairly short illness and I am happy that she was able to get home briefly between hospital stays. I was able to visit her every day and continue our chats. I was looking forward to seeing her when I return in October. Sadly, it is not to be.
Ponte a Serraglio won’t be the same without Tina. Bar Italia won’t be the same without her. It is the end of an era.
Below is a photo taken many years ago when Tina’s hair was still red. We are at Marco’s restaurant.
If I was in Ponte a Serraglio right now I would raise a glass of limoncello to my friend Tina.
A colourful night of colour and fashion, by Auser Bagni di Lucca, will be held in the piazza in Ponte a Serraglio on Thursday 6th July at 9.00pm. The road will be closed for the event.
There will be 20 models of all ages showing clothes and accessories from the pre-loved collection at the Auser shop in Ponte a Serraglio…the perfect antidote to “Fast Fashion”.
What a fun night under the stars!
The Community Centre was opened yesterday in the old theatre in Ponte a Serraglio.
There lots of books, activities, computers and more…all done by a team from Auser and the Comune.
A lot of work has been done to set up the room.
For the next couple of weeks there will be art by 2 local artists on display. Open in the afternoon from 5.00 for a couple of hours.
There is something for everyone here. I hope lots of people visit. Formal hours are still being worked out.
Auser has a group of excellent shops nearby..preloved home wares. It looks like a well set up antique shop.
There is a preloved clothing shop.
There is also a place where you can have alterations done or use a sewing machine.
Well done Auser on the latest venture.
There is a lovely old theatre in Ponte a Serraglio which has been largely unused for decades. I do remember dance classes there many years ago.
It is a excellent space and it is great to see that it will soon come alive as a place for art exhibitions and much more..
Auser is responsible for the new venture. They are creating wonderful area for Ponte a Serraglio. After much work it will open on Saturday 3rd June at 3.30pm. Two local artists , Sharane Darlington and Meg Reilly, will be the first to show their work.
The theatre is in the main street leading from Ponte a Serraglio to La Villa on the same side of the road as Bar Italia.
Once open it will be a community space to be used by everyone, with books, music, games, computers and art. Well done (again) the team at Auser.
The lovely pansies on the bridge at Ponte a Serraglio are almost at the end. Some seem to be still flourishing while others have died. The weather has been strange to say the least.
I have begun planting yellow marigolds in the place of the dead pansies. They will all be planted over the next couple of weeks.
As usual, I will be returning to Australia in early June. If anyone is interested in helping to water the flowers when I leave please leave a message below.
The casino in Ponte a Serraglio was full of people last night. It is great to see that beautiful building open and full of life. There was delicious food with games to follow.
Annalisa and her crew from Bar Italia did a wonderful job with feeding the crowd who came along to support a great cause and have a fun evening.
Where would we be without Virgilio on an evening like this? He had some help with the games.
Money raised from the event will go to making improvements in the Ponte a Serraglio area.
This is an excellent initiative, well done to all those involved. There will be another chance to attend on 20th May. Keep the date free.
Villa Fiori park is full of yellow flowers right now. I know they are weeds, but they do look pretty.
They will be gone when the grass is mowed.
The trees along the river are growing leaves. Soon they will be bright green.
Spring is here.
This weekend FAI (a bit like the National Trust) organised walking tours of the Casino and Bernabo Spa in Ponte a Serraglio. The tours were extremely well attended on Saturday and Sunday, bringing lots of new people to the area.
Our tour began at the casino. It is the first purpose built casino in Europe. Carlo Lodovico di Borbone commissioned Giuseppe Pardini to build it in 1837.
We then walked up the hill to the Bernabo Spa. It has been beautifully restored and offers a range of treatments along with a fabulous deep marble bath and natural steam rooms.
There is a great view of Ponte a Serraglio from the terrace in front of the spa.
From there we walked down the hill and stopped briefly in front of what was the English Club, which is now the home of a friend.
We walked back to the casino for an inside tour.
The entrance and sitting room.
This was once a ballroom.
This is the orchestra stage.
The beautiful ceiling.
Detail of some of the decoration.
Delightful Virgilio gave us some lessons in the types of games that were once played in the various casinos that were operating in the area.
Look out for any future walking tours with the FAI.
It is great to see the wonderful casino building in Ponte a Serraglio being put to use. Here is what is coming next week.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 