Bagni di Lucca’s Art Festival

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

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.

http://www.artfestivalbagnidilucca.org

A question for you

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

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I have been asked to do a survey.

In past years in summer, part of the main street in La Villa is closed to traffic and the area in the centre becomes a pedestrian area. The restaurants put tables outside on the street and the area in front of the Circolo dei Forestieri becomes a fun place for people to sit to eat and for children to play safely without the worry of cars.

This photo was taken yesterday, so you need to imagine that the trees are green and there are flowers everywhere.

Some car parking spaces are lost when the street is closed, but there is more parking behind the town. There is a road that goes behind the main street, so traffic is not disrupted.

There has been some talk that the street closing may not happen this year because a few businesses are not in favour of it.

I think it is a great idea, but I would like to know what you think. Would you like to see the centre of La Villa become a pedestrian area for a couple of months in summer?

If so, what hours would you like to see the street closed. If not, what are your objections?

Whatever your opinion, please leave a comment below, or send me an email….debrakolkka@gmail.com

Rock art at Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

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.

Bagni di Lucca cat does meerkat impersonation

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

We are cat sitting at the moment. Meet Tiggy May.

She has made herself at home and has decided that the view of the village from our window is fascinating. She spends hours watching the goings on from our couch.

Something happened which really appealed to her and she needed a higher vantage point.

The funny little thing stayed like this for quite some time, obviously enthralled by something, possibly birds flying past. How I wish she could talk so I could know what was going on in her little pussy head.

Livizzano

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Livizzano is a quiet hamlet below San Cassiano. I took advantage of a rare sunny day to walk through the tiny village.

Of course the views from the village are gorgeous.

The church in San Cassiano looks over the village.

There are some pretty houses in Livizzano.

I found a few renovators’ delights for you.

There are some lovely old paths to be followed when the ground dries out after all the rain we have had.

I love the old tiled roofs.

House and garden decorations are many and varied.

The village cats were enjoying the sun.

Spring is just around the corner. In a couple of weeks these trees will be bright green with new leaves.

Swallows and a rainbow

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

It has been raining here in Bagni di Lucca for weeks. We are all sick of it. Late yesterday afternoon the rain stopped and a strange yellow light appeared over Ponte a Serraglio.

Then a rainbow appeared.

Then swallows began to swoop and dive along the river.

There is a saying here…Una rondine non fa primavera…One swallow doesn’t make spring. ( a bit like “One swallow doesn’t make a summer”). There were lots of swallows, so I’m hoping it is a sign.

A bit later there was a double rainbow. The photo is not great, but if you squint you might see it.

Rondine e un arcobaleno…I jumped in this morning and planted the pansies on the bridge. Let’s hope it doesn’t snow again.

A celebration of women

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

At the Casino in Ponte a Serraglio there is an art exhibition to celebrate women. As well as a chance to see the beautifully restored interior of this historic building, you can see and exhibition of painting, sculpture and photography.

A large crowd gathered for the opening event.

For me the most interesting part of the exhibition is a display of craft, beautiful pieces of handwork done mostly by women. Some of these talents are being lost in these busy times and it is wonderful to see such a lovingly collected items of sewing, weaving, spinning, embroidery and lace work.

I can imagine busy hands creating these things for families and friends in any spare moment. Many of these skills are being lost forever. Thank you Gemma Fazzi and her team for showing us this lovely collection.

The exhibition continues until Friday 15th March and is open in the evenings from 5pm until 8pm. On Friday evening there will be a fashion parade followed by refreshments.

Benabbio

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

The road to Benabbio is one of the better mountain roads in the area. It is about 5 kilometres from La Villa to Benabbio, which sits about 480 metres above sea level. It is home to around 350 people.

I visited the town after a recent snow fall and found it looking very beautiful on a gorgeous winter day. Come for a walk around the village with me.

You can always find a cat in a warm sunny place.

Snow adds a gorgoeus touch to any view.

While I was in Benabbio I had lunch at the excellent Il Cavallino Bianco. I have eaten here a few times, click here to see the post I wrote about my lunch on a previous visit.

I still have to try the other restaurant in Benabbio…Acquolina in Bocca…next time.

Granaiola

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Lucky Granaiola sits in warm sunshine most of the time. It is 416 metres above sea level on top of a ridge. The 125 inhabitants get magnificent views of the valley below and the mountains around them.

This is my view of Granaiola from Ponte a Serraglio.

This is their view of Ponte a Serraglio.

The pretty village houses cling to the side of the hill. Come for a walk along the narrow streets.

Granaiola has a birds’ eye view of Colle.

…and across to Lugliano.

…and to Monti di Villa.

These photos were taken last year…time for another visit to Granaiola.

LOCAL INFORMATION

There is to be an exhibition at the Casino at Ponte a Serraglio… An Homage to Women….with 24 artists, including painters, sculptors and photographers.

The opening ceremony will be at 6.00pm Friday 8th March, followed by a harp recital by Anna-Livia and a buffet (€5 donation)

The exhibition will run from 8th – 15th March.
Saturday and Sunday….4.00 – 8.00pm
Monday – Friday….5.00 – 8.00pm

Monti di Villa

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Debra Kolkka

Monti di Villa is one of the higher villages in Bagni di Lucca at almost 600 metres above sea level. It is made up of 3 hamlets…Lugnano, the higest, Bugnano, the abandoned village, and Riolo. Today about 100 people live in Monti di Villa.

Lugnano, which is signposted Monti di Villa, sits along a ridge with mountains forming an impressive backdrop.