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.
I have returned to beautiful Bagni di Lucca after being away for almost 4 months. I love the winter here, especially the view from my balcony in Ponte a Serraglio.
Time for a walk to see familiar things.
Spring will be here soon, I love that too.
It is good to be back in bella Bagni di Lucca.
While it might not be great for those who are here on holidays, the recent rain is very welcome after a dry, hot summer.
I like the misty morning and the sound of the rain at Ponte a Serraglio.
The rain is needed to fill dams, the springs that feed the rivers and the poor distressed plants. Let’s hope we get good rain over the next few months.
Ponte a Serraglio will be the star of Sunday’s guided walk. If you can’t make it today remember the date of the next one.
Ponte a Serraglio has an excellent pre-loved clothing shop. It is part of the Auser group. It is on the road between the Piazza in Ponte a Serraglio and La Villa.
There is a wonderful selection of clothing and accessories…a great addition to Ponte a Serraglio.
Piera, who owns and runs the excellent fruit and vegetable shop in Ponte a Serraglio, is from Sicily. She and her husband are now selling snap frozen Sicilian delights in the shop. They have arancini and pastries in different sizes.
There are sauces to go with them as well.
Of course they still sell a great range of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Drop in a say hello to lovely Piera.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 