Lovers’ walk

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Beside the Lima River at La Villa is the lovely walkway dedicated to the English poets, Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, who spent a few summers in Bagni di Lucca in the 1800s. The path was created from the drainage channel of an ancient millpond.

The 2 English poets wrote some of their sonnets during their visits to Bagni di Lucca in 1848, 1853 and 1857. The walk was dedicated to the pair in 2008.

You can find an entrance to the walk near Conad, where you see the sign beside the road.

There is a path to the walk beside the Teatro Accademico, where there is also access to the pedestrian bridge. It is possible to enter the walk from a couple of places at the other end of La Villa as well.

Summer fruits on the way

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

The blossoms are gone from the fruit trees and the tiny fruit has appeared. Soon we will be eating some delicious summer fruits and berries.

Tiny, perfectly formed pears.

Baby cherries.

Peaches?

Plums?

Figs….my favourite.

Gooseberries.

Don’t know.

Raspberries?

And let’s not forget the grapes.

I hope I get to try some before I have to go home.

The pretty park in La Villa

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

There is a lovely park behind the main street in La Villa, the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca. It is a cool place to sit on a hot day and there is a children’s playground.

The park had a bit of a makeover last year. The old trees were trimmed, the water tower renovated, the playgound renewed and a new fountain was installed.

It is great to see that the park is well used by locals and visitors alike.

Acacia and chestnut blossoms

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Acacia and chestnut blossoms are appearing on trees all around us. The acacia is a bit late this year because of the rain and the cooler than usual weather.

Hopefully soon the air will be filled with the delicious honey like smell of these pretty white flowers.
I know they are weeds, but the bees like them.

The chestnut blossoms stand like proud decorations on the beautiful trees. These are horse chestnut flowers, the real chestnut trees bloom a bit later.

As well as looking beautiful, the blossoms provide nectar for the bees to make honey. The whole area is famous for its delicious, pure honey….lucky us.

Look out for some local honey while you are in Bagni di Lucca. There are lots of small producers in the villages of Bagni di Lucca.

Bagni di Lucca votes for a new mayor

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Yesterday, 6th May, and today the people of Bagni di Lucca have been voting for their new Sindaco (mayor). I can’t vote, but I walked up to our nearest polling station the see what was going on. Sezione No 3 is at the Bagno Bernabo.

The view of Ponte a Serraglio is just gorgeous, especially on a glorious sunny day, like today.

The lovely old spa has been restored recently and we are still waiting to see it open. I went inside, but only a couple of rooms were open.

One of the local carabinieri was on hand to watch over the proceedings.

The electoral lists.

Voting finishes today. I wonder who will win.

I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.

UPDATE…….

Massimo Betti, the handsome fellow in the first photo is our new mayor. He is from Bagni di Lucca and has a pharmacy in La Villa. He is a well known and respected business man who knows and loves Bagni di Lucca. Let’s hope he can bring some positive changes to the villages.

2 special events in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

On Friday 4th May the San Giovanni spa was officially opened by the outgoing mayor of Bagni di Lucca. Work has been going on for some time on the wonderful old building. It is great to see these places brought back to life.

I photographed the spa late last year while the work was still going on.

There is still some work to do on the interior, but it is looking good.

A good crowd gathered to watch as the mayor performed one of his final duties.

The mayor spoke and the new young priest for Bagni di Lucca blessed the building.

Then everyone charged inside to see what will be on offer when it really opens.

The rooms are light and airy, thanks to the sky lights and glass ceiling.

There are lots of treatment rooms and beautiful baths to take advantage of the health giving waters coming from the spring that feeds the spa. There has been a spa of some kind in this spot for centuries.

Hopefully the work will be completed soon and people will flock to the new spa.

The second event took place the next day at the station at Fornoli.

The mayor was on hand again to open the newly renovated waiting room at the Bagni di Lucca railway station. I recall arriving here in May 2003 and thinking I would like to take a broom and paintbrush to this place. Somebody finally has and it is going to look great, a much better welcome to Bagni di Lucca.

I missed the ribbon cutting, but I did see the scissors.

There isn’t much to photograph in the waiting room of a station, so I will show you around the outside.

The old station near the present one.

On the platform.

Waiting for a train.

There was even a train at the station.

Now if they could just get the train to coordinate with the bus that goes past the station all would be perfect.

I love the tree lined street that leads to the station.

I wonder what the new mayor will bring to Bagni di Lucca.

For those of you who are interested, there was lots of food on offer. Those who did not attend the openings should remember this for next time.

Art lessons in Longoio

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Peggy Gosling is organizing art lessons in the village of Longoio, where she lives for part of the year. She invited me to the pretty hamlet on the road from La Villa to Montefegatesi to talk about her upcoming venture.
The Longoio geese were at the entrance of the town to greet me.

I think they imagine themselves to be guards, protecting their territory, with lots of hissing and honking. I took their enthusiastic antics as a welcome. Soon their owner appeared to direct them home.

I wandered though the town which was begun centuries ago as a friary. There are lots of archways, which were apparently built by the friars so they could walk on top of them without having to walk through wet fields in the cold winters.

I love the old doorways and windows in the villages.

There are lovely details everywhere.

Spring has been a bit of a disappointment so far, but there are always spring flowers.

I don’t know what the yellow flowers are, but the new growth below is Laurel. Those Bay leaves will no doubt find their way into a pasta sauce.

The roses are just beginning and the tulips nearly finished.

I came across the old church above the village.

And I met the geese again on their travels.

There will certainly be lots of things to draw or paint for the budding artists who come to join Peggy.
Longoio Art is offering landscape drawing and painting holidays, starting later this year. Experienced artists and teachers will help develop your skills in gorgeous settings in and around Longoio.

Take a look at Longoio Art’s website for more information.

www.landscapepaintingtuscany.com

Saint Apollonia in Bagni di Lucca

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Saint Apollonia is the patron saint of dentists, or those suffering with dental problems. She was a martyr who suffered in Alexandria during an uprising against the Christians. Part of her torture was having her teeth pulled out…..most unpleasant. She is always represented in art with pincers.

What has this got to do with Bagni di Lucca, I hear you ask. Yesterday I went to the inauguration of a new statue dedicated to the the saint, at the point where Ponte a Serraglio meets Fornoli in the tiny street named after her.

On the way to the statue.

It is in a very pretty area of the village with a road that leads from the main street up to the agriturismo Le Torre. The houses and gardens are beautifully kept.

Quite a crowd had gathered for the celebrations by the time I arrived.

The sculpture was hidden from view.

I think the priest was asking for fine weather.

The local children performed the task of removing the covering.

Everyone gathered for photos.

The mayor gave a little speech.

Then the artist, Amerigo Peruzzi, who lives opposite, told us about his work.

The priest blessed the statue.

A new baby slept through the procedings.

Then it was time for some delicious food….of course, we are in Italy.

I hope Saint Apollonia would appreciate what was done in her honour, particularly the eating side of the celebrations.

If you walk up to Le Torre, stop for a moment to take a look at Bagni di Lucca newest art work.

It is a lot of fun to be included in local celebrations. The Festa Della Colombina is on this Sunday 6th May at the Villa Fiori Park from 10.00am to 6.00pm. Colombina is the name of a bread baked in the shape of a dove. It was made in Bagni di Lucca in the 1800s in the local ovens and served at cafes.
As well as eating Colombina you can paint a statuette or browse through a little market. Come along and join the fun.

Meet Jayne and Ilario from Del Sonno Restaurant

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

One of our favourite places to eat in Bagni di Lucca is Del Sonno. The food is great and Jayne and Ilario are delightful….what more could you want?

I know I am boring, but I almost always order the same thing, saltimbocca. It literally means “jump in the mouth”. If you taste it you will know why. The dish consists of thinly sliced veal, topped with prosciutto and sage leaves.

I usually have grilled vegetables as a side dish.

They also do a great pizza and when I can force myself not eat the saltimbocca I have a gorgonzola and prosciutto pizza….or a salame piccante….or quatro stagione…..

The crust is thin and crispy and the toppings, just right.

I have, on occasion, been known to have pannacotta or tiramisu. Then I walk home to Ponte a Serraglio.

Jayne allowed me into the kitchen last year and showed me how she makes her saltimbocca. If you click here you will find the post.

Say hello to Ilario if you go to Del Sonno. He is always there with a smile and he knows everything about Bagni di Lucca. Jayne will be in the kitchen making my saltimbocca.

Del Sonno Ristorante….146/148 Viale Umberto 1, La Villa

Ph. 0583 805080

www.ristorantedelsonno.it

Meet Livio, he helps to keep Bagni di Lucca beautiful

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

I see Livio regularly in Ponte a Serraglio, La Villa and Fornoli with his trolley and his birch broom.
He looks after us very well, keeping our streets clean.

I admired his birch broom one day and he very kindly offered it to me. His job would be great on a fine sunny day, but not so much fun on cold, windy ones.

Say hello to Livio next time you see him, he likes a chat.

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

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