Bagni di Lucca is actually a collection of villages coming under the control of the Comune of Bagni di Lucca. La Villa is the commercial centre and houses the Comune office and a good group of shops, banks and restaurants.
Our little area, Ponte a Serraglio, is 1 kilometre down river and Fornoli, where the railway station is, sits another kilometre further down the Lima river.
The total population is around 7,000 and is spread around the villages of Benabbio, Casabasciana, Granaiola and Lugliano among others. It has been called Bagni di Lucca since 1862. In 1101 the Countess Matilda of Tuscany had the Devil’s Bridge built so that she could access the health giving springs.
Since Lucca unified the area in 1308 and tranformed it into a spa oasis, it has been visited by people from all over Europe to take the waters. It’s heyday was in the early 1800s, during Napoleon’s occupation when his sister Elisa Baciocchi spent her summers in Bagni di Lucca. A casino was built and it became a social hub for foreigners, particularly the English. Shelley, Bryon and the Barrett Brownings were among the visitors.
The view from Debra’s balcony
Looking across the Lima river at Ponte a Serraglio
Ponte a Serraglio
The casino, the first in Europe
Villa Ada at La Villa
The baths at La Villa
The pretty marble sculpture in Villa Ada
The old station building in Autumn
The Lima river from Ponte a Serraglio
The autumn mists on the river
The walking bridge to Villa Fiori and the car park
Early morning from the walking bridge.
For suggestions for places to stay in Bagni di Lucca, look on the Stay in Bagni di Lucca page.
For information about eating in Bagni di Lucca click here.
We love our little village and would like to share it with everyone. If you have any questions you think we may be able to help with, please send an email to – debrakolkka@gmail.com – and we will do our best to answer you.
In the categories Bagni di Lucca and Ponte a Serraglio you will find more posts on our area.
Look on my other blog Bella Bagni di Lucca for more posts on our lovely village and surrounds.
bellabagnidilucca.com
Thank you sharing these lovely photos. I would love to one day visit Italy and see it’s old charming villages and building. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
By: Constance V. Walden on January 26, 2012
at 8:59 pm
I hope you visit our lovely village soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 26, 2012
at 10:24 pm
Sono Australiano ma una grande parte della mia anima e’ italiana. Da quanto tempo sei li’?
By: Panfilo Castaldi on January 28, 2012
at 10:48 am
I am going back to Italy in about a week and I will be there for 4 months. I will then be in Brisbane for the winter and head back to Italy for a couple of months in autumn. I usually spend about 6 months a year in each place – perfect really.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 28, 2012
at 12:03 pm
Che vita bella. Sono molto geloso!
By: Panfilo Castaldi on January 30, 2012
at 11:05 am
We love our little village of Ponte a Serraglio.
By: Debra Kolkka on January 30, 2012
at 11:45 am
Debra – please email me
d.baker.designs@gmail.com
I am applying for an internship at an art gallery in florence and currently live in Wisconsin USA. It has always been my dream to travel to Italy, but not just for 2 weeks. I want to experience much more. Am I going to be able to survive the culture shock!
Dawn
By: Anonymous on February 5, 2012
at 9:34 pm
I’ll be happy here forever. You can adopt me and take me in or point me to the nearest real estate agent….breathtaking…and now one of my destinations this summer. Thank you, I realized my level of stress just went down 50% and my desire rose double that. Would this be a good place to base my daughter and I for the summer? I want to show her Rome, Florence, Venice, Sorrento/Pompeii and I want to “live” somewhere that perhaps will become my permanent home.
By: ellis newport on March 8, 2012
at 6:56 pm
Our little village of Bagni di Lucca is very central to lots of things. I can be in Rome in about 4 hours using public transport and the same for Venice. Lucca, one of the loveliest towns in Italy is 40 minutes away on the bus and Florence 1 hour further on. It would be an excellent place to be for the summer.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 8, 2012
at 7:06 pm
Dear debra
I am bringing a group of friends from Australia for my 50th in may to Lucca. I am really interested in visiting the gargafagna and bagni di kucca. Any suggestions for a day tour with lunch ( tasting local specialities) or othe small towns within a couple of hours that are your favourite, We have cars , Love to walk ( not too many hills), eat drink talk and absorb .
By: cathy Paver on April 15, 2012
at 12:05 am
If you come to Bagni di Lucca eat at Del Sonno. There is at least one post on it. Barga is another good option. Look at Heather Jarman’s website Sapori e Saperi for tours in the area. When I get back from Sardegna I will email you with some suggestions. Eat at Paris Boheme in Lucca and say hello to Luis and David.
By: Debra Kolkka on April 15, 2012
at 8:24 pm
I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your blog. I’m staying in Benabbio in July for a week (12 of us). I would love to ask you some specific questions
about touring the area. We’re all so excited!!
By: Leslie on May 1, 2012
at 12:45 pm