When I wander through the ancient villages and the countryside around Bagni di Lucca I see hundreds of abandoned houses. I find them fascinating and wonder about the people who lived in them.
I came upon this crumbling treasure on the way to Prato Fiorito. It was part of a little group of buildings that would have been a farmer’s property.
I can imagine a young family moving into the newly finished house, planting a garden, keeping animals. Did they like living here? Where did they go and why?
The stone walls would have required months of back breaking work and now they are left to fall apart.
Care was taken with the door and windows. Was the house a cool refuge in the summer? Were they warm by the fire in winter?
I hope the people who lived here had some happy times. They certainly lived in a beautiful place. I hope they had time to sit and admire the view when they weren’t working.
They must have missed it when they left.