A weekend of fun and Pinocchio in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

La Villa, the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca, hosted a charming festival on the weekend. The fun activities were inspired by the stories of Pinocchio, which were written in the nearby village of Collodi.

There were stalls selling Pinocchio articles, arts and crafts, food (of course), games and activities for children and street performers.

Patrizia’s fruit shop with a few extra goodies.

Ilario from Del Sonno cooks up a storm.

What I loved the most was seeing children joining in a having fun doing simple things…… not a computer game in sight.

It was a good excuse for the adults to dress up and have some fun too.

Even a princess needs to eat.

If you are really lucky, you will happen upon one of these delightful local festivals when you are in Italy….bring a costume just in case.

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

Una notte spettacolare

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

On Saturday night at La Rondine Gallery in Ponte a Serraglio there was an evening of spectacular entertainment. Jake Cartwright was joined by his friends, Guy Dowsett and Henna Kaikula for a performance of original music and acrobatic brilliance. Jake and Guy provided the beautiful music and Henna amazed the audience with her charismatic contortion.

In the words of others, Henna ” has been called a graceful snakewoman and acrobat who can do anything with her body” and ” seems to be able to twist herself inside out in a playful defiance against the laws of nature.” I will add that she is also charming and engages with her audience delightfully.

I wish that she wasn’t so fast…..then I would have been able to get better photos of her performance.

The tiny gallery filled with people spilling out on to the street to see the performers. Everybody was delighted and we were all left wanting more.

I hope there are lots more evenings like this in Ponte a Serraglio.

The Anglican cemetery gets a makeover

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

On Saturday 8th September there was a small ceremony to celebrate the restoration of the Anglican cemetery in Bagni di Lucca.

The cemetery was opened in 1842. Henry and Elizabeth Stisted obtained permission from Carlo Lodovico, Prince of Lucca, to build an Anglican church and a Cemetery of Anglican rite for the British community living in Bagni di Lucca at the time.

There are 139 people buried in the cemetery. Appropriately, Henry and Elizabeth Stisted have their final resting place there. Evangelina Whipple settled in Bagni di Lucca in 1912 and worked to help the families of refugees and was called to the front in WWI. She wrote a book about Bagni di Lucca…A famous corner of Tuscany. She died in London, but wanted to be buried next to her friends in her adopted home.

There are several other well known names buried in the cemetery, including Rose Cleveland, the sister of US President Stephen Grover Cleveland and Ouida, a famous novelist.

Quite a large crowd gathered for the celebration, many of whom had never been to the cemetery before. Work has begun on the resoration. Rows of cypress trees have been planted to replace the original plantings. The grass has been cut and the overgrowth removed and some of the tombstones have been cleaned.

Visitors sign a book to commemorate the opening.

Local historian Dottore Cherubini and our mayor Dottore Betti spoke at length on the importance of the cemetery and the need for the restoration to be completed.

A large crowd attended the celebration.

Some of the sites have been cleaned….but there are many more in need of restoration.

Henry Stisted’s grave.

The grave of Louise de La Ramee, known as Ouida. Her tomb was made by sculptor Luigi Lucchese Norfini.

I actually liked the graves as they were, but I do understand that some would deteriorate without restoration. I think it is wonderful that people care enough about Bagni di Lucca’s history to take care of it in this way.

I did a post last year about the cemetery last year on Bagni di Lucca and Beyond. Click here to see the cemetery before the restoration had begun.

Changing seasons

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

One of the things I love the best about Bagni di Lucca is the obvious change in the seasons. I come from a sub tropical climate where there is not a lot of difference.

There is a view that I have been photographing for a year to document the lovely changes.

I like all the seasons ( except when it gets really hot in summer ). Autumn is particularly lovely in Bagni di Lucca…..and it is about to start.

A celebration of Dante Alighieri in Montefegatesi

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

On a beautiful summer evening in July, Dante Alighieri devotees were invited to an evening of poetry. The crowd gathered at the monument to Dante, high above Montefegatesi, to listen to Sergio Frati recite from memory, hymns from the Divine Comedy.

With help from fellow Dante lover, Giovanni Pacini, Sergio had the crowd enthralled.

What a wonderful way to spend a summer evening.

The views from the Dante Monument are spectacular.

It wouldn’t be an Italian evening without food, and after the recital everyone congregated for dinner at a very long table outside the club.

After dinner the group went to the town theatre where there was a historical exhibition of emigration relating to Montefegatesi.

Sergio then recited another three sections of The Divine Comedy, telling the story of Paolo, Francesco, Ugolino and other characters from Dante’s masterpiece.

I am sorry I wasn’t there for what looks like a fun evening. The photos and story were made possible by Emanuele Lotti of the Bagni di Lucca Trekking Club. Thank you Emanuele for helping us to keep up with what is happening in Bagni di Lucca.

Click here to see more on the Bagni di Lucca Trekking Club.

Dante Alighieri keeps watch over the village.

Visit Pisa

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Pisa is only about 1 hour by car from Bagni di Lucca. It is also reachable by bus and train.

Pisa is of course famous for the leaning tower. The campanile (bell tower) of the Duomo began to lean shortly after it was built in 1173 and has survived several attempts to straighten it. It has now been secured and it is possible to once again climb the tower.

Everybody knows that the tower leans, but what may come as a surprise is that it is beautiful. The Piazza dei Miracoli is one of the prettiest squares in all of Italy and the buildings there are spectacular.

It is possible to visit the Duomo, the Baptistry, the tower and the Camposanto (walled cemetery). Head straight for the ticket office where it is possible to buy a ticket for one or all of the buildings.

The Duomo was begun in 1064. It was designed by Buscheto in the Romanesque style with Byzantine influence. The magnificent bronze doors were made in the workshop of Giambologna.

The shiny bits have been lovingly rubbed by visitors.

The round Romanesque Baptistry is the largest in Italy. It was begun in the 12th century.

The interior is quite stark except for the mosaic floor.

The Camposanto was all but destroyed in WWII, but has been beautifully restored.

There are photos of the destruction, making the restored frescoes seem even more amazing.

It is worth the €15 to climb the tower. You can actually feel the lean as you climb the narrow marble stairs. Be sure to go all the way to the top, as our friends did.

Take the time to look at the beautiful detail on the tower.

The Piazza dei Miracoli is popular with tourists with good reason. Go early and book your time to climb the tower at the ticket office. Only 35 people at a time are allowed to climb because the steps are narrow. It is actually very well organised and climbing the tower is fun, don’t miss it.

Take the Lazzi bus from Bagni di Lucca and change in Lucca for Pisa. Ask the driver to let you off at the tower. Take note of the stop. The bus stop back to Lucca is on the opposite side of the road near the entrance to the Piazza dei Miracoli.
For the train, either take the bus or the train to the station in Lucca and catch the train to Pisa. There will be a walk from the station to the tower, but it is not too far.

Montefegatesi revisited

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

I had only been to Montefegatesi in winter, so I thought I should take a look in warmer weather. Last time I was in the village I took the high road to the top. This time I went the other way, winding down towards the bottom.

Come for a walk through the tiny streets of Montefegatesi in lovely spring.