Bagni di Lucca
Encyclopedia
Bagni di Lucca is a comune
of Tuscany
, Italy
, in the Province of Lucca
with a population of c. 6,500.
The locality was quoted for the first time in an official document dating back to 983, with reference to a donation of the territory of Bagni di Lucca to Fraolmo of Corvaresi by the Bishop Teudogrimo.
Between the 10th and 11th centuries the village became a feudal property and it belonged first to the Suffredinghi family, then to the Porcareschi and later to the Lupari. In the 12th century the commune of Lucca occupied the territory of Bagni di Lucca. In 1308 Lucca unified the community of Bagni di Lucca to those ones of the close villages and thus formed a Vicarship named "Vicarship of the Lima valley".
During the 14th century Lucca, taking in account the economic profits coming from the thermal springs of Bagni di Lucca, restored the town and transformed it in a relaxing and enjoyable oasis that was attended also by numerous famous foreign people.
Bagni di Lucca and its thermal baths reached its maximum splendour in the 19th century, especially during the French occupation
. Bagni di Lucca became the summer residence of the Napoleon's court and of his sister, Elisa Baciocchi. At this time a Casino was built and it offered to the society life gambling rooms and also a large hall where the dancing nights took place.
After the Congress of Vienna
(1814) Bagni di Lucca was assigned to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
, under the domain of the Grand Duke Leopold II of Lorraine
. His rule started a period of decline for the thermal activity and the Casino, since he was used to lead a secluded life. In 1853 the Casino was closed.
Nevertheless the economy increased in different ways: the inhabitants developed an artistic craftsmanship carrying out the manufacture of paperboard, chalk and plastic. In 1861 Bagni di Lucca was annexed to newly-unified Kingdom of Italy.
(circa 1100), with its lofty central arch. It is also known as Ponte del Diavolo
. Notable is also the pieve
(rural parish church) of San Cassiano, known from 722, housing a St. Martin Riding by Jacopo della Quercia
and other Renaissance paintings. Other Renaissance works can be found in the pieve of San Paolo a Vico Pancellorum (known from 873).
In the frazione
of Bagno Caldo is a hospital constructed largely at the expense of Nicholas Demidoff in 1826.
river. The district is known in the early history of Lucca as the Vicaria di Val di Lima. Ponte Serraglio is the principal village of the warm spring area, but there are warm springs and baths also at Villa, Docce Bassi, and Bagno Caldo. The springs do not seem to have been known to the Romans. Bagno a Corsena is first mentioned in 1284 by Guidone de Corvaia, a Pisan historian (Muratori, R.I.S. vol. xxii.).
Fallopius, who gave the springs credit for the cure of his own deafness, sounded their praises in 1569; and they have been more or less in fashion since. The temperature of the water varies from 36°C to 54°C. In all cases, the springs give off carbonic acid gas and contain lime, magnesium and sodium products.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in the Province of Lucca
Province of Lucca
The Province of Lucca is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lucca.It has an area of 1,773 km², and a total population of 372,244...
with a population of c. 6,500.
History
Bagni di Lucca was known for its thermal springs since the Etruscan and Roman Ages.The locality was quoted for the first time in an official document dating back to 983, with reference to a donation of the territory of Bagni di Lucca to Fraolmo of Corvaresi by the Bishop Teudogrimo.
Between the 10th and 11th centuries the village became a feudal property and it belonged first to the Suffredinghi family, then to the Porcareschi and later to the Lupari. In the 12th century the commune of Lucca occupied the territory of Bagni di Lucca. In 1308 Lucca unified the community of Bagni di Lucca to those ones of the close villages and thus formed a Vicarship named "Vicarship of the Lima valley".
During the 14th century Lucca, taking in account the economic profits coming from the thermal springs of Bagni di Lucca, restored the town and transformed it in a relaxing and enjoyable oasis that was attended also by numerous famous foreign people.
Bagni di Lucca and its thermal baths reached its maximum splendour in the 19th century, especially during the French occupation
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. Bagni di Lucca became the summer residence of the Napoleon's court and of his sister, Elisa Baciocchi. At this time a Casino was built and it offered to the society life gambling rooms and also a large hall where the dancing nights took place.
After the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
(1814) Bagni di Lucca was assigned to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
, under the domain of the Grand Duke Leopold II of Lorraine
Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Leopold II of Tuscany was the last reigning grand duke of Tuscany ....
. His rule started a period of decline for the thermal activity and the Casino, since he was used to lead a secluded life. In 1853 the Casino was closed.
Nevertheless the economy increased in different ways: the inhabitants developed an artistic craftsmanship carrying out the manufacture of paperboard, chalk and plastic. In 1861 Bagni di Lucca was annexed to newly-unified Kingdom of Italy.
Main sights
In the valley of the Serchio, c. 5 km below Ponte a Serraglio, is the medieval Ponte della MaddalenaPonte della Maddalena
Ponte della Maddalena is a bridge crossing the Serchio river near the town of Borgo a Mozzano in the Italian province of Lucca...
(circa 1100), with its lofty central arch. It is also known as Ponte del Diavolo
Devil's Bridge
Devil’s Bridge is a term applied to dozens of ancient bridges, found primarily in Europe. Most of these bridges are stone or masonry arch bridges and represent a significant technological achievement...
. Notable is also the pieve
Pieve
In the Middle Ages, a pieve was a rural church with a baptistery, upon which other churches without baptisteries depended.The Italian word pieve is descended from Latin plebs which, after the expansion of Christianity in Italy, was applied to the community of baptized people...
(rural parish church) of San Cassiano, known from 722, housing a St. Martin Riding by Jacopo della Quercia
Jacopo della Quercia
Jacopo della Quercia was an Italian sculptor of the Italian Renaissance, a contemporary of Brunelleschi, Ghiberti and Donatello. He is considered a precursor of Michelangelo.-Biography:...
and other Renaissance paintings. Other Renaissance works can be found in the pieve of San Paolo a Vico Pancellorum (known from 873).
In the frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of Bagno Caldo is a hospital constructed largely at the expense of Nicholas Demidoff in 1826.
Hot springs
The commune is known for its springs which are situated in the valley of the Lima River, a tributary of the SerchioSerchio
At 126 kilometres the Serchio is the third longest river in the Italian region of Tuscany, coming after the Arno and the Ombrone...
river. The district is known in the early history of Lucca as the Vicaria di Val di Lima. Ponte Serraglio is the principal village of the warm spring area, but there are warm springs and baths also at Villa, Docce Bassi, and Bagno Caldo. The springs do not seem to have been known to the Romans. Bagno a Corsena is first mentioned in 1284 by Guidone de Corvaia, a Pisan historian (Muratori, R.I.S. vol. xxii.).
Fallopius, who gave the springs credit for the cure of his own deafness, sounded their praises in 1569; and they have been more or less in fashion since. The temperature of the water varies from 36°C to 54°C. In all cases, the springs give off carbonic acid gas and contain lime, magnesium and sodium products.