I have returned to beautiful Bagni di Lucca after being away for almost 4 months. I love the winter here, especially the view from my balcony in Ponte a Serraglio.
Time for a walk to see familiar things.
Spring will be here soon, I love that too.
It is good to be back in bella Bagni di Lucca.
Rain has returned after a run of sunny days. I think our mountains look great in this weather.
Today was glorious in Bagni di Lucca. I went for a walk from Ponte a Serraglio to Fornoli to make the most of the warm sunshine.
I think we will have rain again tomorrow…all the more reason to get out and enjoy the winter sun when it shines.
I returned from an overnight trip to find the Lima River turned into a raging torrent. Heavy rainfall and melting snow have sent huge amounts of water down the river. The level of the water went from about 1.5metres to 4.7 last night. It has dropped a bit today but it is still rushing past my window carrying logs and other debris with it.
…further down river.
I hope the high water doesn’t cause damage.
I awoke to snow falling at Ponte a Serraglio. It started slowly and it looked as though it would melt before it hit the ground, but it gradually became heavier and began to turn everything white.
Ponte 
By the late afternoon the snow was mostly gone, but it was lovely while it lasted.
Lately we have had snow in the higher villages in Bagni di Lucca. Along the Lima River it has mostly been raining. In a brief sunny time I drove up towards Montefegatesi to see some snow. It had melted in the village but the mountains around it looked gorgeous. The blue sky made a beautiful backdrop. In fact I think it was the star of the show today.
I drove through heavy fog on the way up. From above you can see it settled in the valleys.
Bare trees look wonderful.
Montefatesi always looks spectacular from any angle.
We have had some sun by the river. It doesn’t last long, but it is most welcome when it appears. Time to go for a walk or just to enjoy being outside.
It has been an interesting year, one which most of us will be happy to say goodbye to.
I wish you all a Happy New Year with health and happiness.
A friend has just sent a photo and short video of the view from my apartment.
I wish I was there. I love it when it snows in Ponte a Serraglio!
If you drive, or walk, past Montefegatesi on the way to Orrido di Botri you will find yourself in another world. Ancient forests of chestnut, oak and beech trees shrouded in mist seem from another time and place. It wouldn’t have surprised me if a goblin had dashed out from a hollow tree.
There are the remains of stone metati, chestnut drying huts, unused for decades.
If only the trees could talk and share their stories of the people who once lived and worked here, hard lives, but at times it must have been a beautiful place to work.
I think the trees look beautiful on a cold winter day, but I will be back in spring to see them again when the green leaves appear.
Snow fell in Bagni di Lucca today. It was wonderful to wake up to find everything covered in a blanket of white.
This afternoon it began to rain, just a light drizzle, but enough to wash the snow away. It was pretty while it lasted.
“The Beast from the East” is certainly making its presence felt in Bagni di Lucca. It was below zero on my balcony at Ponte a Serraglio this morning.
We don’t have deep snow like Rome. There were a few flurries the other day and fierce wind, but no snow on the ground.
After being shut in the house for a couple of days I decided to drive up to Montefegatesi, the highest of the Bagni di Lucca villages at around 840 metres above sea level, in the hope if finding some snow. Apart from a few patches of snow in shaded areas the village was clear. The temperature was -7!
Montefegatesi looks wonderful whatever the weather. Here it is with its winter coat.
There was little snow, but lots of frozen puddles.
The surrounding mountains are covered with snow.
I visited when I was here in autumn, a beautiful season in Montefegatesi.
Soon it will be spring and everything will look different again.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 