Bagni di Lucca is a collection of beautiful villages scattered along the Lima River and in the hills on either side. There are about 25 villages, but it is difficult to know an exact number as some of the villages have tiny sub villages, or hamlets. Each one has a rich history and some delights to offer the visitor.
I have visited most of the villages at least once. Below is a list of the ones I have been to and written about. If you click on the name of the village a relevant post will appear.
Vico Pancellorum There is an official website to look at … vicopancellorum.toscana.it
Bella Bagni di Lucca 
We are coming to stay in chifenti for 2 months. Thanks for the travel info. Keep it coming.
I hope you have a great time and get a chance to explore the area. There are little gems everywhere.
Thank you so much. Reading all about the area makes it more exciting. We hope to visit all of the nooks and crannies in the area.
Aren’t we lucky to live in such a beautiful area? thank you for reminding us.
It is an incredibly beautiful area. I get back to Bagni di Lucca on Saturday…can’t wait.
This is wonderful information thank you so much. I last visited the region and San Gemignano on a day trip when staying at a luxury hotel in Florence, but found it too far to drive for a day. Do you have any recommendations where to stay in the villages region with higher end rooms?
If you go to the “Stay” page at the top of the blog you will find suggestions. Villa Lucchesi is a beautiful B&B I think you would like.
I could recommend where we stayed for 2 months. It is called Casa dei Castagni. It also rents for a minimum of 3 days. The house us outstanding. There is plenty of room. It comfortably sleeps 8 people with 2 1/2 baths. There is a terrace which overlooks the valley and is surrounded by mountains. If we didn’t live in New York I would go back every year!! And to top it all, the price us sooooo reasonable. Don’t be nervous about thinking about it—do it! It is in Chifenti within walking distance of Fornoli.
Thank you for the recommendation.
Pingback: Bella Bagni di Lucca in 2014 | Bella Bagni di Lucca
Thank you for your astounding photo journey. I am traveling to Bagni do Lucca during my first ever trip to Italy to visit the homeland of my grandparents. I’m not traveling to see the tourist sights. I want to experience the Italy my Nonno & Nonna described. Thank you so much.
I love to share Bagni di Lucca with the world. It amazing how many people have a connection with the villages. Which village did your grandparents come from? Some of the more remote ones would not have changed a lot from when they lived there.
I have a question. Where can I find routes for walking? We like to come 10-9 for a few dans. We have no car, we hope that walking is possible in the area. I think we stay in a hotel near the bridge were you live. But only when their are good possibilitys for walking.
With love Hilde
There are walking trails around the area. They can be a bit difficult to locate, but if you ask for help you will find them. I have sent an email with more information.
I am in the same situation. Can you send information for walking trails. We will have no car, but are not afraid to walk for long days to see the higher villages.
There are some maps at the information centre. I believe there are a couple of books available at the newsagent in Fornoli. I can’t remember what I found in 2014.
Looks so beautiful were renting la balconata in Granaiola in June’s for 9 days really excited we’ve been to Italy many times but never in a house
You will love it up there. I might see you at Bar Italia one day.
That would be nice to meet you Debra and hear what it’s like to live there as its our plan to move there eventually x
I will be happy to tell you all about it.
We live in New York
We returned in October from our two month stay. We stayed in a magnificent house in Chifenti. It overlooks the valley and has an incredible view of Rocca with its centuries old tower which is lit up at night. It sleeps up to 8-9 and the owner is wonderful. She rents it for a minimum of 3 days. The price was less than1500€ per month. I recommend it completely. We can’t wait for another opportunity to stay there again. If anyone is interested, let me know and I will forward you the info.
I love bellabagni!! – i use it to remind me of the lovely times and experiences we have in the area as well as to reduce stress at work
My husband and I will be staying in Tereglio for the month of September. Thank you for the wonderful pictures and blog about the villages nearby. I can hardly wait! Also, I’m wondering how/where we could find some other English speakers in the area. I’m working at learning some Italian, but it would be fun to connect with some ex-pats.
I’m not sure about Tereglio, but there are lots of English speaking people in Bagni di Lucca. Just head down to Ponte a Serraglio and find Bar Italia. There are always lots of expats around, especially at aperitivo time. I will be here in the second half of September.
I cannot get enough of your pictures and your blog. Bagni di lucca is on my travel list, thanks to you Debra 🙂
I hope you come to visit one day soon.
I know I will and il definitely mail you before that. Wish I had planned it this time around 😦
Debra- you do a marvelous job with the blog and keeping both visitors and the newbie owners like us advised of what a wonderful place this is. We are just purchasing at Villa Talenti, Bagni Caldi and will no doubt hear your dulcet Aussie tones around town soon.
Thank you, I know Villa Talenti very well. I will be back in Ponte a Serraglio in September for a while. I’m sure we will meet one day soon.
Are any of the villages accessible by public transport?
Yes, there are buses from La Villa to the villages, but they only run a couple of times a day, perhaps only once a day when there is no school. The bus stop is in front of the Comune building. There should be a list of times there. If not, try the information centre.
We are staying in San Cassiano in December and would like to do some skiing at Abetone. What is the best way to get to Abetone, is there a bus from San Cassiano?
thanks
Roger
I think you will have to drive to Abetone. There is no bus to the ski fields that I know of. Abetone is 40 kilometres from Bagni di Lucca. It takes about 1 hour to drive there and you will need winter tyres or chains.
Hello, I found your blog through Italophilia’s blog post. I’ve always been curious about this area of Lucca, so I will definitely try to visit sometime soon since it’s only a little more than an hour away from where I live.
I’m also happy to know that other blogs about small towns/villages in Tuscany exist, so people get to know about other parts of the region they wouldn’t usually see!
Bagni di Lucca is a wonderful collection of villages. I hope you visit soon. I am back in Australia right now, but I am looking forward to being back in February.
Love your photos. Just heard last night will be in Monti di Villa for hol nxt year. Your photos were timely and have made my day. Keep posting.
There are a couple of posts on Monti di Villa. It is a very pretty village.
Pingback: Blue sky over Cocciglia | Bella Bagni di Lucca
Thanks for guiding me here. I didn’t realize there were so many villages in the list. That’s a large area! Some of my family roots are also in Livizzano.
Love these little villages!
Hello-would you know where I can rent a nice road bike nearby? Not the motorized. Thank you
There is a bike hire place in the Main Street in La Villa, but they only have the E bikes. I have not found anything else.
Thank you so much 😉
I was born there I only visited few of them. What a shame!
I think I have been to all of them at least once.
Pingback: Your Italian Travel Tips – Grotta del Vento in Bagni di Lucca, Italy | Conversational Italian!
My partners grandparents came from the area,his second name is Rossidoes anyone have any information on his family name.
There is a Rossi family in Ponte a Serraglio.
Thank you for this blog!!
My family is from Bagni di Lucca. My grandfather, Alfredo Contrucci, was born in 1937 in the mountains and moved to the US after WWII.
I am hoping to visit in the next few years, and would really love to find his childhood home. All I know is that it was a large, multi-generational home of the Contrucci’s/Geurrini’s in the mountains, with a fig orchard. I have a photo from the early 1930s of where my great-grandparents were married, outside of an old, round-shaped church (I’ve thought maybe the Cappella Demidoff?), but I’m not sure which village it was in.
Any recommendations on where I might be able to find public records/local history?
Thanks!!
The library in La Villa, the main village in Bagni di Lucca, has archives. That would be a place to start looking. If you come here and start asking questions I’m sure you would find someone who knows the name.
There is also a museum in Lucca that covers the Italians who went to USA.
One of the historians who takes our guided walks is named Contrucci.
This is helpful! Thank you so much!!
My grandfather was born in a village not far from the town of Lucca. I visited there in 1986 when I still had cousins in Lucca. They owned a printing store and their children may still be there inside the walls. I thought the town where my grandfather was born was Caraia, but I can not find it anywhere. His name was Parenti and he married an Orsalini. Does the name of the town sound accurate? Monica
I don’t know that name. It could be Capraia, Capannori or Camaiore, which are nearby towns. You could try contacting Ann Barsi at abarsi@verizon.net
I have heard the name Parenti in Bagni di Lucca.