Let’s look at some of the activities and events which will take place in and around Bagni di Lucca during the coming days. At least they’ll help to take our minds off what’s happening at a certain place by the Thames…

I’m definitely not going to miss Moliere’s comedy ‘Tartuffe’ this Friday 29^th March at 9 PM at the Teatro Academico. It’s about a religious hypocrite that unctuously uses his sanctimonious self to dupe a gullible family; a theme still somewhat relevant today. If your Italian is not that brilliant then it might be worth swotting up on the plot at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartuffe#Plot. There’s no problem about that: I always have to do the same with opera plots, even if they’re sung in English!

On Sunday in Villa’s market place there’s another favourite event: the antiques market – something else not to be missed! Look out for that Botticelli disguised as a copy. (If you don’t believe me see https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/mar/28/botticelli-copy-found-to-be-rare-original-from-artists-workshop

On Sunday 7^th April there’s a truly great event : the 43^rd Giro dei Colli termali or walk/run around the thermal hills of Bagni di Lucca. Depending on your stamina/inclination you can choose a variety of routes starting from 2 to 4 kilometres through 10, 18, 20 kilometres. It’s a very ‘Italian’ event with families joining in and I regret I’ve only done it once so far. Turn up in the morning at the stadium.

The longest route goes through our village of Longoio and I did a little of the route, now blue-spot marked,  yesterday with two feline competitors who need no introduction to readers of my blog.

There are refreshment points en route and the weather is set fair. Sandra and I have also done the equally entertaining romp called ‘Marcia delle Ville’. For an account of that one see my post at https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/the-marathon-lucca-style/

Again, on Sunday 7^th April at 6 pm in Bagni di Lucca’s Library, there’s the Spring Jazz concert organised by the De Montaigne foundation. It’s now in its seventh year and this time stars the world renowned singer from Livorno, Chiara Pellegrini and members of her highly jazzed-up family, Andrea and Nino.

To savour a little of Chiara’s ensemble here’s an excerpt from YouTube:

The concert is free but don’t forget to book!

Of course, there’s loads more happening but one can’t be everywhere at the same time unless one has been cloned!