Our visit to Euromarchi’s factory for statuettes production took place in yesterday’s blazing afternoon. Fortunately air-conditioning alleviated the heat and we were able to appreciate the firm’s production in cool comfort.

Continuing the old tradition of ’figurinaio’ (statuette maker) Euromarchi have largely stopped making them out of plaster in favour of modern resins which are more durable and climate-proof (thus suitable for garden ornaments).

First we were led into the showroom where in addition to the umpteen different representations of the Christmas crib there was a variety of frames and fitments on display.

The boardroom was next on our visit with walls hung with the many certificates of merit this firm has achieved over the years. We also met Mr Marchi, the director of the two-hundred year old family enterprise.

What we did not see was the actual process of making the statuettes. This was rather a pity but since it was late in the afternoon and anyway most employees were away for the holiday season it was understandable.

It’s the first time that Euromarchi has been opened for the Fondazione Montaigne Bagni di Lucca walking tours which are led by very well trained young persons who clearly wish to make tourism and guiding their profession.

We had previously visited Arte Barsanti which carries on the old tradition of using plaster for statuette making. It is fortunate that the industry has reinvented itself with Euromarchi using more modern materials and designs. It would be good, however, if it could branch into more secular fields (sports personalities representations perhaps) or even embrace other religions (like Buddhism or Shintoism to cater for oriental visitors) in its manufacturing iconography.

Next door to the Euromarchi factory is the English cemetery in which non-Catholic residents and visitors to Bagni were buried until the 1950’s. One of the tombs recently restored is that dedicated to the engineer of the railway to Bagni di Lucca.

I have already mentioned this hallowed earth in several previous posts so won’t say more than state that, thanks to the efforts of Marcello Cherubini and the Fondazione Montaigne, the cemetery is now almost completely restored to its former glory and presents a worthy asset to Bagni’s historical monuments.Indeed, I wouldn’t mind being inhumed in there when my time comes. Desiring postulants, however, still have to await the Bishop of Lucca’s verdict on the subject…

Here is the complete list of organised Bagni di Lucca walks: