Bagni di Lucca and Beyond

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | February 24, 2025

Art and fashion at the Louvre

Louvre Couture – Art and Fashion: Statement Piece, a fashion exhibition at the Musee du Louvre is on now until 21st July 2025. The museum is showcasing its treasures of classical art alongside creations by the greatest couturiers and promising young talents.

The fashion is dotted amongst the treasures in the Objets d’art department. Guests are invited to stroll through the rooms to discover the garments from 45 fashion houses. I enjoyed the Objets d’art every bit as much as the garments. I would go back to the museum happily to see these gorgeous things again, even without the fashion.

Come for a walk.

Dior

Versace

Rabih Kayrouz

Chanel, Karl Largerfeld

Calice en cristal de Roche, circa 1200.

Dolce & Gabbana

Yves Saint Laurent

Nearby

Charles De Vilmorin

Nearby

Dries Van Noten

Christian Dior, Maria Chiuri

Marine Serre

Christian Dior, John Galliano

Nearby

Hermes, Nadege Vanhee

Iris Van Herpen

Schiaparelli, Daniel Roseberry

Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld

Undercover, Jun Takahashi

JC De Castelbajac

Alexander McQueen

Viktor & Rolf

Christian Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri

Fendi, Silvia Fendi

Balenciaga, Demna

Nearby

Alaia, Azzedine Alaia

Vivienne Westwood.

Prada

Thom Browne

Nearby

Schiaparelli, Daniel Roseberry

Balenciaga, Demna

Nearby

Loewe, Jonathan Anderson

Duro Olowu

Gucci, Alessandro Michele

Christian Louboutin

Balmain, Olivier Rousteing

Nearby

Christian Dior, John Galliano

I’m bot sure I saw all of the fashion, there were many rooms.

There is so many stunning things to see in the museum….I will return.

On the way out…

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Posted in France, Paris | Tags: art, fashion, Louvre, Musee de Louvre, Paris

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | February 20, 2025

A serpent and doggie things at Le Bon Marche

Le Bon Marche is my favourite department store in the world. Right now there is a 25metre crochet serpent suspended under the glass ceiling. The artist, Ernesto Neto, says his work is a symbol of maternal force. It is also present at the time of the year of the snake in the Chinese horoscope.

A large space is also filled with crochet hangings and there is a wall where visitors are invited to draw with chalk. The installation finishes on 23rd February.

On the ground floor is a space dedicated to dogs…La Casa Del Doggo. There is every possible thing you might need for your pooch. Many dog owners brought their dressed up dogs to see the offering. There was lots of barking, the occasional fight and one little dog was trying each of the food bowls on the floor in the hope there might be a little treat there. He left disappointed.

Upstairs there was a smaller, pink version, with more goodies.

There is always something interest in at Le Bon Marche, along with some of the most beautiful fashion found anywhere.

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Posted in Fashion, France, Paris | Tags: France, Le Bon Marche, Paris

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | February 17, 2025

Dolce & Gabbana in Paris

I loved the Dolce & Gabbana exhibition in Milan last year so I was delighted to learn that it would be on in Paris when planned to be there. I went on Saturday to the magnificent Grand Palias to see the exhibition.

Come inside.

While the clothes and accessories were the same spectacular creations, I thought the display was nowhere near as good as the one in Milan. The rooms were smaller and people were crammed into smaller areas, which meant we were all squashed in and moving at snail’s pace. The exhibition rooms were disjointed and the exhibition did not flow well.

Despite this slight disappointment I did enjoy seeing the wonderful designs of the clever duo.

After a very slow walk through the exhibition, up and down stairs, my Paris friend led me across the road for coffee at the wonderful Petit Palace. This glorious place needs another, longer visit.

Paris has turned on beautiful blue sky and crisp cold weather for my visit…I love it!

Here is the post I did for the Milan exhibition, there is more description…Dolce & Gabbana overload

The Grand Palais D&G exhibition is on until 31st March.

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Posted in Fashion, Paris | Tags: Dolce & Gabbana, fashion, Grand Palais, Paris

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | December 31, 2024

Looking back on 2024

It is always interesting to look back over the year that has come to an end. There are fun things and not so great things to remember. I like to remind myself of the interesting places visited and revisited. Here are some of the highlights.

In February we took the Indian Pacific train from Perth to Sydney. The track is 4,352 kilometres long. Crossing the Nullarbor was amazing. Even though it is a long, flat stretch of land, it is far from boring. I had books with me, but I spent most of my time staring out of the window. The landscape of ever changing and there are emus and kangaroos appearing here and there.

Indian Pacific from Perth to Sydney

Not long after the train trip I headed back to Italy. Regular trips to Lucca, just a 30 minute drive from Bagni di Lucca, are necessary. It is especially lovely walking the wall surrounding the town in spring. Everything turns green and gorgeous while you watch.

Almost spring in Lucca

On a trip to Bolgheri in southern Tuscany we stopped at the stunning town of Sovana. Its buildings are made of tufa, a porous type of limestone. After wandering in the town for several hours we decided it is a place we would like to return to and stay the night.

Sovana, a tufa town in Tuscany

In April we had our first visit to Marrakech. We loved the food and the friendly people. Scouring the markets was fun and the stunning Jardin Majorelle was a highlight.

Things I like in Marrakech

Marrakech gardens

Excellent wineries called us to the beautiful Veneto region. We stayed in Soave and explored this lovely area.

Soave invaded by animals

In May I travelled to Milan to see the Dolce & Gabbana exhibition at the Palazzo Reale. It was truly the best fashion exhibition I have ever seen. In the chandelier room the ceiling was covered with shining glass chandeliers, the fashion was transparent or glittering and the soundtrack was shattering glass.

Dolce & Gabbana overload

Later in May I headed to the UK to visit lovely friends. I stayed in the Cotswolds, Oxford, Cambridge and London. With excellent guides and comfortable shoes I covered lots of territory and had a great time. I had forgotten how beautiful the English countryside is and how much I love London.

Marvellous Marlow

Beautiful Broadway

Lovely London

2 favourite London shops

Word on the Water, the London Bookbarge

Then it was home to Brisbane for our perfect winter weather. I visited the Iris van Herpen exhibition at GOMA 5 times. It was spectacular. We are lucky to have such a wonderful Art Gallery 10 minutes from home.

Iris van Herpen at GOMA

In September it was back to Italy with stopovers in Helsinki and Paris. Helsinki was still looking gorgeous in late summer.

My Finnish cousin has an excellent restaurant, Bonafide. The food is innovative and delicious.

The last of summer in Helsinki

We had a month in Paris in 2023 and it just made me love Paris more than ever. I had a few days staying in the Marais and spent my days walking the city.

Beautiful Paris

Le Bon Marche – Paris

Cluny Museum Paris

It was great to be back in Italy in September and October even though the weather was awful. The rain was constant but there were a few trips to Florence, Montecarlo (the Italian one) Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi with patches of blue sky.

When I am back in Brisbane I spend my time sewing and spending time in my friend’s shop, Sarva, in West End. I like to sew so it is great to have an outlet. If you are in Brisbane drop into 239 Boundary St, West End to say hello.

Travel was the fun part of the year, but there were some sad times as well. In April I lost my dear friend Paul Stoker. Ponte a Serraglio will never be the same without him. Big Paul will be missed by many. Lots of hours were spent at Bar Italia and on his beautiful terrace overlooking the river. He was taken much too early.

A couple of days later my Uncle Val, who was 2 days off 95, died. His name will live on as I love to tell people I have an uncle who has never knowingly eaten a vegetable in his life. He managed to get by without them.

A few weeks ago my favourite aunt, Shirley, died just a couple of weeks before her 92 birthday. It seems life without Val was not so great. They had been together since my aunt was 19…71 years of marriage.

My earliest memories are of the days I spent from the age of 2 visiting with her and my grandfather, who lived just a few houses away. I will miss my visits to Aunty Shirley and Uncle Val. They liked a chat and I was a willing listener. My mother always said I looked more like Aunty Shirley than her. I’m good with that. This photo was taken when she was younger than I am now. I was lucky to have her in my life.

MLet’s hope that 2025 will be a good year with health and happiness. I’m ready.

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Posted in Australia, England, Finland, Florence, Helsinki, Italy, London, Lucca, Marrakech, Milan, Paris, Pietrasanta | Tags: Dolce & Gabbana, Florence, Forte dei Marmi, Helsinki, Italy, Paris, Pietrasanta, Soave, Sovana

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | November 27, 2024

Shoes made in Bagni di Lucca

I have spent half the year in Bagni di Lucca since 2004 and I had no idea there is a thriving family business making shoes in the tiny village of Lugliano, one of the villages that make up Bagni di Lucca. Lugliano is directly above Ponte a Serraglio, where our apartment is.

I am delighted to discover that the Fiorina shoe making business has been around for 49 years. The Piacentini Brothers have been making artisanal shoes with passion and skill for almost 50 years. Their beautiful designs have been made with care and are sold in Italy, other countries in Europe, Japan and America.

Even though the business has grown, their focus is always on craftsmanship and quality, with everything made in Bagni di Lucca. I think this is wonderful.

Take a look of some of their creations.

Fiorina ship all over the world and they are also interested in finding agents. If you know anyone who might be interested please pass on their information.
Here is their website.

http://www.fiorinashoes.com

The family also has an excellent shop, also called Fiorina, in Bagni di Lucca Villa. It is in Via Umberto I, 79.

I think Bagni di Lucca is lucky to have talented people running a successful family business.

Find Fiorina Shoes and Fiorina Shop on Instagram.

fiorina_shoes

fiorinashop

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Posted in Bagni di Lucca, Fashion, Italy, Shopping | Tags: Bagni di Lucca, Fiorina, Fiorina shoes, Italy, Made in Italy, shoe making, shop local, Tuscany

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | November 10, 2024

Forte dei Marmi

Forte dei Marmi is a seaside town in the province of Lucca in northern Tuscany. It overlooks the Ligurian Coast in Versilia. Tourism is its main activity, attracting wealthy Italians from Florence and Milan. The population of the town triples in the summer when visitors flock to the seaside to enjoy the town’s delights.

The area’s previous reasons for being were silver, lead and silver in Roman times and later on, marble. In 1515 the marble quarries that lie in the mountains behind Forte dei Marmi were donated to the Medici family. New quarries were opened and a new road was built to bring the marble blocks to the sea, where a pier was built.

In the 1700s rivers were diverted in the area to avoid flooding, canals were built and the area was reclaimed. The road became more important for marble transportation. Settlements were built in what is now Forte dei Marmi.

A fortress was built in 1788 as a defence point against pirate raids and as a deposit for the marble that came from the Apuane mountains. That is how the town got its name, Forte dei Marmi, Fortress of Marble.

In 1997 the Fortress became the Museum of Satirical Art. It is a lovely focal point in the town.

Forte dei Marmi is a very well presented town. I love the pines on the edge of the town with the mountains as a backdrop.

There is a memorial to maritime workers.

Looking towards the mountains. You can see the marble quarries in the mountains. They are sometimes mistaken for snow.

There are lots of attractive shops and restaurants in Forte dei Marmi.

The vase in the photo above is made of silicone and it wobbles when you touch it. I loved it and thought of buying it until I found it was €800. I reluctantly left it in the shop.

There is an excellent antique market each month.

There is also a weekly market every Wednesday. It is one of the best I have seen on Italy for quality products. It is held in a lovely park under the pines.

Even in autumn there are pretty flowers everywhere in Forte dei Marmi.

I had lunch at the newly renovated Principe cafe on the main street.

I sat at an outside table, but the interior is lovely too.

A visit to Forte dei Marmi s not complete without a walk on the pier to take in the view of the town and the mountains behind it.

Forte dei Marmi is a fun place to visit.

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Posted in Italy, Tuscany | Tags: autumn, Forte dei Marmi, Italy, Tuscany, Versilia

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | October 28, 2024

Castelnuovo in Garfagnana

Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is a town where the Serchio and Turrite Secca rivers meet in the Garfagnana region of Tuscany. The town dates from the 8th century when it was called Castro Novo (new fortified settlement). From the 13th century it developed as a market town on important trading routes.

The Rocca Ariostesca has a few traces of the early fortified structure from the 10th/11th centuries. Additions were made in the 13th century. Around 1470 the cylindrical towers were added. Further additions were made in the 16th century.

The Duomo of Saints Peter and Paul was built in the 16th century. The facade is in Renaissance style and the interior is Baroque.

There are some interesting shops, cafes and restaurants in Castelnuovo.

Il Vecchio Mulino is a favourite place to eat.

Here is a post I wrote several years ago about Vecchio Mulino.

Slow food in the mountains…and a very big mortadella

There are excellent views of the river.

An old entrances to the town.

Near this entrance is an excellent deli, filled with local delights.

I managed to find a few treats to bring home.

There are dozens of wonderful towns and villages to explore in the Garfagnana.

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Posted in Italy, Tuscany | Tags: autumn, Castelnuovo, food, Garfagnana, Italy, Tuscany

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | October 23, 2024

Pietrasanta

Pietrasanta is a pretty town 3 kilometres inland from the sea on the Versilia coast north of Pisa. It has Roman origins and part of the Roman wall still exists. It is also one of my favourite towns to visit.

Pietrasanta grew to importance during the 15th century, mainly because of the local marble. Michelangelo was the first sculptor to recognise the beauty of the local stone. The town now has 50 marble workshops and bronze foundries. It has attracted many artists, including Fernando Botero, Joan Miro, Henry Moore and Damien Hirst.

The main piazza is surely one of the loveliest in Italy. There is usually an art installation in the piazza but on a recent visit the piazza was empty.

Part of the old wall is visible on the hill behind the town.

The church and campanile are stunning.

I have been visiting Pietrasanta for about 15 years and I have watched the town grow. The lovely streets are lined with beautiful shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries, making it an interesting place to be.

The entrance to the main street.

One of the old portals.

There is art all over the town, old and new.

There are great shops and galleries.

One of the most beautiful decorating shops I have seen anywhere is Emanuela Marchesini in Via Garibaldi.

As well as this shop they have a bigger space just outside the centre. This is an absolute treasure trove of wonderful vintage and modern pieces.

Find treasures tucked into tiny chapels. This is a baptismal font originally in the cathedral. It dates from the 16th century.

The hexagonal font from 1389 was used for 2 centuries before full immersion baptisms.

Lots of places to eat and drink.

We have a favourite restaurant where we go regularly, Ristorante Quarantuno, in Via Stagio Stagi, 41. Here are they are waiting for us to appear.

I think it is easy to see why I like to visit Pietrasanta often.

10 Comments

Posted in Italy, Pietrasanta, Tuscany | Tags: Italy, Pietrasanta, shopping, Tuscany, Versilia

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | October 16, 2024

New things (for me) in Lucca

I love Lucca! It was great to take a walk in a few areas I don’t walk in often. Yesterday,with a lovely friend, I discovered a few things I had not seen before.

First up was this great place where we went for lunch. It is just inside the wall in Piazzale San Donato. It is called Living Concept Store, you can shop, eat and drink.

Come inside.

It has a delightful little shop at the back.

Lunch was delicious.

The restaurant nearby is apparently extremely well known, but I have not been. The outdoor tables under the arches looks fabulous…something else to try.

We passed this great shop in Via San Georgio. The owner was sitting in the window busily making stock for the shop. His mother makes excellent hats.

This shop, Factory Lab, in Via Calderia 13, is full of interesting things made from recycled materials and 3D printed objects.

There are lots of old things to love in Lucca as well.

Chiesa San Michele in Foro, first mentioned in 795, on the site of the original Roman Forum. It was rebuilt in 1070. The facade dates from the 13th century and renewed in the 19th century.

San Martino Cathedral dedicated to Saint Martin. Construction began in 1063.

The water nymph fountain in Piazza San Salvatore, designed by Nottolini and sculpted by Luigi Camolli in the 1800s.

Doors

A view from a door.

Closer.

Delightful Chiasso Barletti, a tiny street in the centre of Lucca.

Ortofrutta in Piazza San Salvatore, for excellent fresh produce.

The wall surrounding Lucca is stunning. No visit to Lucca is complete without a little wall walking.

The first signs of autumn are showing on the trees.

There is much to love in Lucca.

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Posted in Italy, Lucca, Tuscany | Tags: Italy, Lucca, Tuscany

Posted by: Debra Kolkka | October 12, 2024

Florence fun

I love Florence! I visit as often as I can when I am in Italy. Fortunately it is an easy day trip from Bagni di Lucca. Come along for a couple of wanderings in beautiful Florence.

Even on a miserable, wet day Florence shines. A trip to Florence always involves the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno River.

In the Piazza Signoria is my favourite Neptune, designed by Bartolommeo Ammannati in 1575.

I like his fierce look.

Behind him is Cosimo I de’Medici, by Giambologna in 1594.

A copy of Michelangelo’s David.

Hercules and Cacus by Florentine sculptor Baccio Bandinelli from 1525-1534.

Stopping for coffee has become a difficult choice. Giacosa has reopened across the street where it was in Via della Spada.

Right now schiacciata all’uva is in season.

My other favourite place for coffee is Caffe Gilli on the corner of Piazza Republica. It is the oldest cafe in Florence, established in 1733. I love to stand at the bar and pretend I am a local.

A walk past the incredible Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is necessary. It is one of the largest churches in the world. It was begun in 1296 in Gothic style to a design of Arnoldo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436, with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. The facade was completed in the 19th century.

Part of the exterior of the church is now covered for renovation work.

It pays to look up while walking…the roof of Basilica di San Lorenzo. In 1419 a new church was financed a new church to replace an 11th century Romanesque building on the site.

I pass this on the way to my new favourite place for lunch, La Menagere in Via de’Ginori. It is a shop, a florist a restaurant and cafe and I love it.