Tags
Bagni di Lucca, ponte a Serraglio, Maserati, mountains,, Italy, Tuscany, travel, Bagni di Lucca, photography, Garfagnana mountains,
Our goal destination was La Croce di Brancoli. The Brancoli Cross is a monument that dominates the plains of Lucca and the lower Serchio valley.

Croce di Brancoli
We drove out of Ponte a Serraglio, on a gorgeous spring day, with the top down, following alongside the river.
We drove past the spectacular Ponte della Maddalena or Ponte del Diavolo – Devil’s bridge near the town of Borgo a Mozzano – heading towards Lucca.
After about 15 minutes of driving we turned left, and started driving up hill towards the Pieve Di Brancoli
The roads were getting steeper and narrower the higher we drove. They were so narrow in parts it was difficult and quite precarious to pass other vehicles. We got many looks of admiration, thumbs-up and great happy “ciaos”. We stopped along the way to take in the magnificent views and of course take photos.

The Maserati
Eventually we ran out of surfaced road and started to drive on unimproved roads which finally stopped us. The roads were full of divots and pot holes and just too dangerous to drive a very low, expensive car. So, we left the car and continued on foot. For a very long walk. We walked and talked, and walked and took breaks. As you can expect in such a divine location, the views were stunning.

View

The View
We actually did not make it all the way up to the top to see the cross. I was the one who ran out of energy.
But, it really was OK. I was in a magnificent motor vehicle, in the mountains in Tuscany, on a gorgeous day with a very interesting man. Perfetto
Croce di Brancoli is built in the highest part of Brancoleria. The views would be breath taking, so maybe another time I will try to reach it again, in a smaller vehicle that can handle the rough roads and then I won’t need to walk so far.
In fact, the entire area is very interesting with scatterings of bunkers which were used in WWII. It would be a wonderful place to spend a full day, hiking, picnicking, taking photos and just breathing in the beauty.
A great way to spend my last day in Bagni di Lucca
Thank you Mr B
Your uphill travel was stunning and what a car to be in! Wow! You live right.
Yes Linda, it was a great day out with memories that will last for a long time.
What a perfect day! Those views look spectacular…and the car…Wow,Lyn I’m impressed X
Yes Mary, I was impressed also. Super day. Very special.
Yes I sure would be impressed & remember the day for LONG time. Daphne
Yes Daphne, I am sure I will
Hi Lyn – great article. I’m intrigued to know why you are in a British registered Maserati in the Italian hills?
Right hand drive always makes it more interesting……..
Janet X
Hi Janet you are very observant. Mr B is an Englishman who has a house in Bagni di Lucca which he visits
O and yes. Right Hand drive definitely made it more interesting
Wonderful experience for you! Buona Fortuna!
Some days are diamonds……… some days are pearls. This must surely have been a diamond day. Bellissimo!!!!!!!
Gail it was absolutely delightful. Yes a diamond day
You are bold, asking for a ride in Leigh’s new car.
Maybe
Sooo terrific. Beautiful story and pictures yet again. Xx
Thanks Leah. xx
Lyn I am now totally jealous of you!!!! A Masarati really? OK once I rented a Ferrari Testa Rosa but only for a day.
Well mine was only half a day But it was fab u lous. I love nice cars and I love Italy. A winning combination
Nice trip!
What a lovely day! I’m jealous. So nice to see you there. You are glowing :)
It certainly was a special treat. Probably once in a lifetime Ishita
so happy for u :)
Vroom vroom!
Have you used public transportation much in Italy? Since you have traveled there a lot I’m hoping you can give me some advice. I have a European cruise booked that has a few port stops in Italy. Sights like Pisa, Pompeii, and Herculaneum can be reached by taking a bus from the cruise port to a train station and then a train to the site. Do you know if there are any signs and bus and train schedules and that sort of thing in English or is it all in Italian only? If navigating the public transportation is easy enough it’s a lot cheaper than a cruise ship excursion, plus you have more time to see what you want. If it is hard for people who speak no Italian to get around it would be heaps cheaper and much easier to book the ship’s excursion than to have to travel on our own to the next port because we missed the boat.
I really cannot give you any advice but what I can say is, the signs are mostly in Italian. Train station announcements are always in Italian and sometimes followed up in English. I have travelled all over Italy using the train system and it is fantastic, but, I do read Italian and I do speak enough to get by. So, I would base your decision on the amount of time you have on each excursion and how far you must travel. Take a look at the website trenitalia to get an idea of train timetables. As for the buses, I have taken the local buses in Rome, the regional areas and the Cinque Terre and have found them good, but there you really do need some Italian. Bus drivers usually do not speak English Good luck and enjoy your cruise. Lyn
Thanks. Sounds like we’d probably be better off on a ship’s excursion since we neither speak nor read Italian and wouldn’t want to get lost and miss the boat.
Absolutely fabulous. Peter is green with envy…a Maserati!!
Thanks Kay, yes I thought of Peter when I was in it. Super fab.
What a fun day!
Yes Sheila, one of the highlights of my trip
Ciao Tesoro…be’ anch’io sono un po’ geloso per il panorama ma sopra tutto per la magnifica macchina , tecnologia italiana..haha,forse un giorno chi lo sa’ guidero’ una macchina cosi’,ma mi fa piacere che tu abbia passato una giornata fantastica in localita superbe e in una vettura da sogni. Bacioni
Grazie Tesoro. It was a day to remember Bacioni
I want to meet this Mr B too !!!👏👏😂😂😂
You and the rest of my friends Miky. Very nice guy with a fabulous car.
Best blog ever!
Thanks Mr B. It was a super great day
Best Ever Blog….Mr B
That is such a nice compliment Mr B thank you
Great Blog……….Mr B !
Thanks again
Was the place near Cinque Terre ?
No worry, the car is strong enough to climb.
Nearer to Lucca, which is about an hour from the coast south of Cinque Terre. Thanks for commenting
Should I try going there next time too.
It certainly is a beautiful place in so many ways. If you have the time, why not!!!