The beautiful public pool is open in La Villa. It is in the grounds of Villa Ada. The entrance is in Via Evangelina Whipple.
There are 3 pools.
The diving pool.
The shallow pool for young children.
The setting is lovely.
There is a cafe if you get hungry.
The pool is open from 9.00am until 7.00pm.
Villa Ada is the 16th century residence of the De’Nobili family. It is set in a beautiful park, which is still used occasionally for events such as the archery competition.
It is still possible to see how elegant it must have been with its lovely covered walkway down to the village. I can imagine what a cool, shady place it must have been on a hot summer day.
You can see Villa Ada in this 1905 photo of La Villa…it is just below the row of cypress trees on the hill.
The photo below was taken in 1908.
It was still looking good 1937.
Villa Ada has belonged to the Comune since 1975. Work has been done to preserve it, but it needs new owners to love and care for it…any takers?
It looks OK from a distance, but as you get closer you can see that it is beginning to deteriorate.
The marble sculpture, The Nymph of the Spa and another statue were in the entrance, but the nymph now resides in the Comune building. I don’t know what happened to the other one.
The grounds must have been very beautiful. It wouldn’t take too much to restore the gardens.
Bagni di Lucca is full of places like this. Is there anyone out there with lots of money?
If you walk up from La Villa, the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca, or down the hill from Colle you will arrive at the quaint little hamlet near Bagno alla Villa, the old thermal spa. Along with Colle and Corsena this is the oldest part of Bagni di Lucca.
The Piazza del Bagno is very pretty and was home to several famous people in the past. The French philosopher Michel de Montaigne stayed here to take the waters in an attempt to cure his kidney stones. The English poets Shelley and Bryon also stayed here. There is a lovely collection of houses here and it is easy to see that it was once very grand.
The old baths have been recently restored. It would be wonderful if they were open again and the area could once again be a hive of activity.
Nearby is Villa Ada, the 16th century residence of the De’Nobile family. It was restored on the second half of the 19th century. It would make a wonderful hotel. We just need somebody with lots of money to come along and restore it once again.
The grounds must have been stunning. There are lovely old stairways and a covered walkway which has become overgrown, such a pity.
Inside Villa Ada is the pretty little marble statue which has become the symbol of Bagni di Lucca.
It is an easy walk uphill from La Villa, just head up past the English church and the swimming pool and keep going. It is particularly lovely in spring when it is possible to imagine how grand this area must have once been.
If you know somebody with lots and lots of money, send them along, they might just like to take on a renovation project.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 