A close shave at Ponte a Serraglio

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Valter is the barber in Ponte a Serraglio, but he is so much more. Every day there is a line of gentlemen sitting in his chairs, but I’m not sure they are waiting for a shave or a haircut. I think they are there to discuss and solve the problems of the world.

Jim regularly visits Valter when he is in Ponte a Serraglio for a haircut and some manscaping.

If you are a gentleman in need of a trim, call in to see Valter, he does a great job, and you might just solve some serious issues.

I’m sure some of these chaps have been lining up at Valter’s for years….long may it continue.

PS. It is with regret that I have report that Valter has retired and it seems nobody was prepared to take over his shop, so there is no longer a barber in Ponte a Serraglio.

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.

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

It is wisteria time

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

I love wisteria! It blooms for such a short time, but it always looks wonderful and the smell is divine.

I have a plant on my balcony and this year it has produced a couple of flowers.

It’s growing!

Here is some we prepared earlier.

The bees love it……and so do I.

My plant has about 4 flowers on it and soon they will be beautiful.

Do you like music and art?

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

There has been an interest in music and art in the Bagni di Lucca for centuries. The art side of things is obvious…we are surrounded by gorgeous art in the churches and museums in the area.

Puccini was born in Lucca and performed, along with many other famous musicians, in several locations in Bagni di Lucca. The appreciation of music continues in the village.

For those visiting the village this summer, local music and art aficionado, Paula Chesterman has organised art and music appreciation tours. There will be visits to Lucca and Florence with the emphasis on art and music and Puccini opera at the open air theatre in nearby Torre del Lago, where the composer lived for a time.

Paula has been involved with music and the performing arts for most of her life. She was a music teacher in England and for many years brought her students to Italy where her choir performed her own compositions in several amazing venues, including St Marks in Venice.

She came to Bagni di Lucca 6 years ago, fell in love with the village, bought a house and moved here permanently……it happens a lot. The beauty and rich history of the area has inspired her to share her knowledge and love of art with those who visit. Her daughter Jo, is also a music teacher. She lives in nearby Modena and will be assisting with the tours.

Teatro Accademico in La Villa.

Visit Paula’s website……www.tuscantalent.com………for more information.

Gorgeous geese in Guzzano

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

Look for the bright pink house as you enter Guzzano.

Guzzano is only 10 minutes from La Villa, on the road towards Montefegatesi. It is a beautiful little village where most of the houses are occupied full time. We visited on a gorgeous, early spring afternoon. It was a bit hazy, but the views are still dramatic.

We think this sign is asking drivers to watch out for dogs.

The tree in front of the church is going to look very impressive soon.

Now, to the geese. We came upon a flock of geese out for a stroll…and what a handsome bunch they were.

That is the boy in front, giving orders.

The girls are answering back.

He wants the grass she is eating.

He really wants it.

Let’s go this way.

No, that way.

These geese are very vocal. I wish I understood goose.

Sadly, since I was in Guzzano taking these photos, one of the female geese and a gosling were killed by a weasel. Life can be very cruel.

Lunch in Vico Pancellorum

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

The wonderfully named Vico Pancellorum is a ancient town. Like other towns in Bagni di Lucca, it was involved in conflicts between Florence and Lucca. The town was almost razed to the ground in 1343. It still retains the medieval structure and is fun to explore.

At the entrance to the town is the church, Pieve di S. Paolo, which dates from 873.

The church is Romanesque style. The facade is gabled, with a cross rose window. Symbolic figures are carved in the lunette over the door.

We decided the figure on the left was wearing and early example of board shorts.

It was an overcast day the day we visited, but the view over the surrounding mountains was spectacular.

The wintery landscape seems to suit this village.

We walked around behind the church, where there is a narrow road up to the village.

There were signs of spring to brighten a dull day.

As usual, I love all the little details to be discovered in the tiny streets.

I want a unicorn tap too!

The main purpose of our visit was to have lunch at the very well known restaurant Buca di Baldabo. I have eaten here several times and the food is very good. I have yet to come on a fine day. I will have to keep trying.

Our first course was ravioli with Zingara sauce…..delicious.

I had deer with olives next.

My friend had rabbit with capers.

And who can go past poached pear with chocolate sauce????

On a better day I will go to the higher part of the town to look around.

There are some wonderful old gnarled trees along the road into town.

There are some very interesting works of art as well on the way into town.

I’m not sure of the significance of some of these pieces, but it made us stop and look.

Be sure to phone Buca di Baldabo before you go to make sure they are open. (39) 0583 89062

A chance encounter with Mezzo and Joseph from Limano

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Debra Kolkka

One of the delights about going to the sleepy mountain villages is meeting the locals. We had not long been in Limano when we met Mezzo who took us to meet his mate Joseph. I wanted to take a photo of Mezzo but he wandered off. Joseph suggested I say the word ‘cibo’ but Mezzo wasn’t silly, he knew we didn’t have any cat food with us, so we were ignored.

Joseph kindly offered to pick Mezzo up so I could get a photo.

Joseph has lived for many years in Limano and Mezzo has lived there for all of his 12 years. Joseph has retired now and has much more time to devote to Mezzo, which is as it should be.

Before Mezzo’s time Limano was a stronghold built and fortified to defend the Lima valley from attacks from its enemies, especially Florence. The town was captured by the Florentines in 1428 but taken back by Lucca in 1442.

The centre of the town is Piazza Gave and 5 roads radiate out from there. There is a stone fountain dating from the 16th century.

I was very pleased I had parked outside the town. I don’t know how you would navigate these streets.

We set off towards the church and found this pretty statue in a tiny shrine.

It must be windy up in Limano, there are large rocks holding down roof tiles.

The campanile looks ancient but it actually dates from 1879. The old one was demolished to make way for a bigger aisle in the church.

The narrow streets wind all over the town through tunnels and arches.

I was fascinated by this very long ladder, probably used for elopements.

There are lots of wonderful old buildings to see.

The church dominates the skyline.

There is another church on the other side of the town as well.

There are good views back over the town from here.

And across to neighbouring Vico Pancellorum.

There are some lovely paths around the edge of the town that need further investigation.

Spring is on the way.

There were a few houses being renovated in Limano, which is good. It’s great to see new life coming to the villages. Doing building work in these places is not easy. It is not possible to get trucks in and out. We saw a workman busy moving things around.

It is a little tractor that is able to be pushed around the steep streets. These people are very inventive.

If you happen to be in Limano on 1st August you can take part in the traditional costume ball that takes place in the piazza.

We didn’t see that, but we did see another cat.

Bella Bagni di Lucca

A beautiful village in Tuscany

Tag Archives: Tuscany