Sunday was the occasion for a visit to the local power station which forms part of a large hydro-electric scheme spread across our mountains and also supplying us with water.

The hydroelectric power plant of Piano della Rocca, built in 1942, is characterized by Art Deco work by Livorno sculptor Angiolo Vannetti and Florentine architect Ugo Giovannozzi embellishing the building.

To drive the turbines, the power plant uses the waters from the catchment area of the Turrite Cava stream, a tributary of the Serchio river, and water discharged from the Gallicano power plant.

Significant reconstruction and restoration led in 2011 to the reopening of the plant by Enel after three years of work costing 23 million euros.

In addition to admiring the giant turbines we were able to appreciate the building’s fine architectural features ornamented with Carrara marble statues and a monumental fresco decorating the entrance hall.

A brilliant recital on flute and guitar including pieces by Gershwin and Piazzolla followed with a scrumptious rinfresco concluding our day’s fascinating events.

How lucky we are to have electricity and water plentifully supplied to us; I thought of the energy hardships some other countries, and Ukraine in particular, are having to endure.