Italy was planned for about 5 years as our retirement dream holiday in 2013. We arrived mid March for a couple of weeks to finalise our paperwork for the required Permesso di Soggiorno and then headed over to France for two months.
During our time here in Italy we have stayed in the northern Tuscan area in Villa Isabella in Ponte a Serraglio which is part of Bagni di Lucca. The beautiful walled city of Lucca is only 30 kms away, the cities of Florence and Pisa are just over an hours drive from here, and the Cinque Terra just two hours away, making it the ideal location to base ourselves.
Below is a quick link to our Italian blogs.
Milan – what a great last day posted on 23 November 2013
Addio ai nostri nuovi amici – Farewell to our new friends posted on 22 November 2013
A white winter farewell posted on 21 November 2013
Handsome Italian men posted on 21 November 2013
The local food is excellent – Part 3 posted on 19 November 2013
From of Italian cucina posted on 18 November 2013
Our final Sunday Drive posted on 17 November 2013
Meet Luciano Volpi posted on 16 November 2013
Some of natures best posted on 15 November 2013
Volterra – an Etruscan village posted on 14 November 2013
Florence has many hidden secrets! posted on 13 November 2013
The seasons first dusting of snow posted on 11 November 2013
The villages of Casoli and Barga posted on 9 November 2013
Portofino – positively perfect! posted on 7 November 2013
On the paper trail posted on 5 November 2013
Beautiful Lucca posted on 3 November 2013
Happy Honeymoon Zora & Will posted on 1 November 2013
A day of celebrations! posted on 29 October 2013
Lucchio, Ponte Sospeso, lunch of course and Cherry’s farewell! posted on 27 October 2013
A stroll around our block in Ponte a Serraglio posted on 26 October 2013
The villages of Guzzano, San Gemignano & Montefegatesi posted on 24 October 2013
Vico Pancellorum posted on 22 October 2013
Thunder, lightning and rain…..rain…..rain posted on 21 October 2013
Orvieto and Pitigliano posted on 20 October 2013
Chestnut Festival & Mushroom Exhibition posted on 14 October 2013
Siena & San Gimignano posted on 13 October 2013
Felicity’s visit was mostly about the food! posted on 12 October 2013
Cherry & Ethan’s Doer-Upperer posted on 5 October 2013
A glimpse of Umbria posted on 3 October 2013
The local food is excellent – Part 2 posted on 30 September 2013
Vicky’s Visit posted on 28 September 2013
Autumn’s treasures posted on 28 September 2013
Cinque Terra then Lucca Hospital posted on 24 September 2013
Isola d’Elba posted on 17 September 2013
Jim ventures out with the local hiking club posted on 15 September 2013
Vicky has arrived posted on 14 September 2013
The chequered flag at Monza posted on 9 September 2013
Autumn, butterflies, bees and other beauties posted on 7 September 2013
The local food is excellent – Part 1 posted on 2 September 2013
See my ‘Guest Post’ on Bella Bagni di Lucca posted on 1 September 2013
Pienza in Chianti posted on 30 August 2013
Cune & Benabbio posted on 27 August 2013
Changing seasons in Forte dei Marmi posted on 25 August 2013
Overnight Thunderstorm posted on 25 August 2013
Bologna – city of colonnades posted on 23 August 2013
Cherry’s beautiful summer garden posted on 20 August 2013
August is a festive time posted on 19 August 2013
The two Monti’s posted on 18 August 2013
The Tuscan Montecarlo and Winery posted on 13 August 2013
Lugliano & Granaiola posted on 12 August 2013
Some Italian things! posted on 10 August 2013
Pisa posted on 20 July 2013
A day on the ‘Med’ posted on 17 July 2013
The Arts in Ponte a Serraglio posted on 15 July 2013
Road trip to Modena & the Ferrari Museums posted on 15 July 2013
Chianti for a day posted on 11 July 2013
Knobs & Knockers posted on 9 July 2013
Dinner on the tower posted on 6 July 2013
Our Permesso di Soggiorno has been granted posted on 3 July 2013
A morning at Agostino & Carla’s posted on 2 July 2013
Another very interesting lunch & local industry posted on 24 June 2013
The Fly Fishing Comp posted on 23 June 2013
Impromptu Lunch at Cherry’s posted on 22 June 2013
Florence was hot posted on 21 June 2013
Casa Debbio at Vergemoli posted on 18 June 2013
Weekend Warriors! posted on 16 June 2013
Cooking with Chef Paolo posted on 13 June 2013
Villa Isabella posted on 1 June 2013
We think we are Visa’d! posted on 5 April 2013
The beautiful city of Genova (Genoa) posted on 27 March 2013
Photo Fix posted on 23 March 2013
We have arrived in Bagni di Lucca posted on 22 March 2013
Nearly There posted on 18 February 2013
The Hassles posted on 23 December 2012
Jim & Kerry 
You mention the following in your travel guide. “We chose to come to Ponte a Serraglio after some lengthy communications with Debra, who I must say has been very generous with her assistance, time and knowledge of the Italian system for those wanting to stay for more than 3 months. Getting our Permesso di Soggiorno would have been very difficult without Debra.” Is it possible for you to share what Debra advised..
By: Josephine C. Baker on 17 January 2014
at 5:25 am
We applied for our Permesso di Soggiorno in Lucca with Debra’s assistance. Unfortunately our Italian language skills did not extend to filling out forms or communicating with the Questura (where they only spoke Italian). I am sure there are services available to assist in these matters but our friend Debra was there to assist us.
By: Jim & Kerry on 17 January 2014
at 6:12 pm