On a late summer’s day last year, under a pergola dripping in wisteria and overlooking splendid vistas, a thought was born to a philanthropist and his friends, to have an art festival in Ponte a Serraglio. For years we had all been coming here, and every year another one or two shops would close down. It seemed unbelievably sad that such a beautiful and elegant town with such a salubrious history should disappear, becoming shabbier over the years and less and less inviting to visit.
As with all intrinsically beautiful places, artists are already attracted to this town with its gracious old buildings and surrounding mountains and walks up to the ancient spas. An artist group got together on the bridge, taking over two shops some years ago, Artisti Uniti, of around ten artists. It was shortlived but quickly followed by the Borgo degli Artisti, whose initial group had a dream to create a hamlet of artists, inspired by Greenwich village in New York! The Borgo degli Artisti took the initative to fix up the derelict garden of Villa Fiori, making it a gorgeous place to have a painting event in mid July, attracting nearly 100 artists for the day to paint all along the river and now they also have sagras on that day and other days throughout the year and have a little gallery on the bridge that displays their members’ works year around.
Since the Borgo degli Artisti started, La Rondine Gallery, an artist run space, showing international artists throughout the summer months has opened in two beautiful shops on one of the small piazzas. To add to the general feeling of excitement, a photography gallery directed by Kevan Halson is opening a few doors up from La Rondine and will feature the works of international photographers.
After our informal ideas meetings with our philanthropist friend who donated a substantial offering to the cause, the enormous job of putting together the Bagni di lucca Art Festival, was placed in Jaqueline’s hands. Jaqueline is our daughter-in-law married to our eldest son, Jacob. Her mother has a smile that would light the sun, while her father is a politician in Cape Verde, and we’ve decided upon this knowledge that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. She is extremely talented dealing with so many artists and cajoling so many people to donate their empty shops, encouraging everyone in the town to get out and work at cleaning them up. The feeling of anticipation is palpable. Already the festival, even in its first year, has legs that are running for success. Of course she is greatly supported by Jake, and the two of them have become a wonderful team.
In generous collaboration, the Borgo degli Artisti are delighted to have the art Festival take place throughout the Villa Fiori gardens. Starting at the beginning of July, there will be a marble hand carving sculpture symposium with international sculptors; music performances; opera; acrobatics; dancing. Plus, there are 7 or 8 empty shops that have been seconded and they will be artists’ studios/exhibition spaces/installations. These shops will rotate with artists over the entire summer, June through till September. The scrumptious old casino will be transformed in the summer for a piano recital of Lizst by one of Australia’s foremost pianists, Ronald Farren-Price, also for an opera from London and an opera from Lucca as well as a performance by Italy’s Al Maranca. It’s a growing happening and already people on the other side of the world are booking to come over to be here, enticed by beauty and culture and delightful traditions.
The Bagni di Lucca Art Festival is the manifestation of many dreams in the little town to see it thrive once more. After all, its historical interest has always been through the amazing artists and personages who have visited this town in the summer.
Living Tuscany & Provence 
It is going to be a wonderful summer in Ponte a Serraglio. It will be great to see the place full of people having fun. Congratulations to all those involved in getting the festival going.
It will be a gorgeous summer in Bagni! Are you around at all over the summer – it would so lovely to have you here. Your records of the areas events are great!
very excited about all these happenings…a dream come true!!!
It really will be fun having all these extra artists in town!
What a beautiful post. We absolutley agree. Bagni di Lucca art is being reborn! Well done to all involved it is going to be amazing. Jo, Antonio and Massimiliano xx
Thank Joanna! I think there are so many people involved now which is totally fantastic – it’s amazing how one day the energy is just right for things to really happen!