The key reason I went to Italy this year as to visit my mother’s last surviving sister who I hadn’t seen in 48+ years. The idea for this post came to me the day before Mother’s Day.
Mom in the main square for Saturday’s market (1964)
Besides sharing my emotional walk down the street where the family lived, I’ve included pictures of her hometown within themes as corridors, arches, and others – so the focus of this post is to spotlight on her town – the small, Tuscan city of Pescia – but with unused pictures (well, except one).
Pescia, population around 20,000, is located between Florence and Lucca, but much closer to Lucca.
A picturesque location in a flat basin where the mountains end
The rain was leaving on this day
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A stream rushing out of the mountains divides the city
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The cathedral dominates the skyline
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Walking the narrow streets of the old city provided many intriguing photo ops
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Benito Mussolini stood on this balcony on his visit during the sixth year of his reign (See the inscription above the balcony)
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Villages dot the hillsides, such as the birthplace of my grandmother
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The main square remains quite active, but it rained on market day.
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Which is your favorite image?
A Frank Angle 
I could [easily] live there…..
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Jots,
Agree. It’s a beautiful setting, large enough to have conveniences, and a train station to get to other places!
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The dark clouds and skies just made the yellow walls glow that much more.
The buildings of the 4th one look like they are crowded around making bets on something racing down the little stream. The market one is priceless.
All these are great. Thanks for sharing
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Mouse,
I like the dark skies one too … Then again, I had many great shots there. 🙂
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the cool thing is that these are real – not a movie set. Sigh. So glad you went
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Thanks for your kind words.
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Beautiful pictures, Frank. This is a part of the world I would love to visit (next to France ;-)). I appreciate seeing Pescia through your photos.
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Maddie,
Tuscany is wonderful! … then again, the rest of Italy isn’t bad either! Hope you make it there some day!
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Love the photo of the golden ochre building with green shutters, Frank – quintessential Italy to me.
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Lynn,
That was in the old section of the city. With its narrow streets and old buildings, a photographic gold mine!
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I like the photo of the main square, Frank. The old buildings and the newer cars. It speaks to me of tradition and change.
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Cathy,
Ah ha … interesting how everyone picks up on different little things. Many thanks for your keen thoughts.
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My favourite is the river that divides the town. What a beautiful town and it seems so unspoiled. Lovely how ‘progress’ hasn’t resulted in its buildings being torn down. You can see exactly how people must have lived years ago xx
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Spiced,
That little stream adds wonderful character. You would love Italy, so I hope you get there some day.
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I like all your images Frank, but the rolling hillside dotted with villages looks particularly nice.
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Lame,
Interestingly, officials applied for UNESCO status because of the setting with the dotted villages, but didn’t get it. Nonetheless, it’s a wonderful setting.
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What comes with UNESCO status?
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All I know is they didn’t get it. 😦
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I love the second photo.. the dramatic dark sky against the lighter coloured buildings is wonderful…
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Bulldog,
And behind me was blue sky!
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I’ll go with the first what a beautiful shot. Of a beautiful place.
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Elyse,
Many thanks … and glad you enjoyed these.
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all of them are beautiful and I just loved that shot of old blue window one with narrow street caption
absolutely stunning
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Soma,
My walk through the narrow streets was fascinating! Not a big area, but very picturesque.
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Sigh……you had such a wonderful trip…and brought back such beautiful photos!
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Zannyro,
Many thanks …. and I’m happy with my point-and-shot capability. 😉
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It’s excellent!
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🙂
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I freakin love Italy
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Lana,
Welcome first-time commenter. Because of your love for Italy, I hope you followed the links on this post (for more pics).
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Such lovely photos, Frank. Italy has so much charm, and you’ve made me want to return for another dose. 🙂
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Paradise,
A charm that is never tiring.
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I really enjoy these pictures, and it is wonderful that you were able to revisit and get to know better, the home of your ancestors.
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Shimon,
Many thanks!
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I like the bottom picture of the main square – I think I’ve mentioned before that I like pictures which make you feel like you could just step in to the photograph and be there, which that one does for me. Also, one of the things I love to do when I travel is browse local food shops, and I’m guessing there are probably a few of those along there!
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Vanessa,
The local food shops are wonderful! In general, eating local adds to the experience.
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Exactly, whenever we go on a trip, even if it’s to some touristy resort, I always choose the self-catering option so that we can go off and discover the local food rather than being stuck eating in some hotel that caters to what they think foreign visitors want to eat! Thankfully my kids are just as keen as I am to experience the local cuisine.
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You have taught them well! … and hopefully they will continue that as adults.
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All the images are beautiful Frank. I particularly like the one of the narrow streets. Things like this are difficult for us who live with 10 lanes of expressways running through our cities to imagine. Nicely done!
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Alex,
The narrow streets are older than our country, which is difficult for me to imagine. Oldness has a wonderful charm!
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Another wonderful visual feast. Interesting to compare the two images of the main square where it seems that all the street vendors of yesteryear have been replaced by autos (unless it was the rain that kept them away.) I really love the photo of your mom in the square. It looks like a street scene from one of Fellini’s films.
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Mobius,
Market Day is on Saturday, and on this trip, I didn’t make it there as it was raining. If I recall, the last pic was either a Wednesday or Thursday. Glad you enjoyed them.
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I love the second to last one Frank, it is simply a lovely image. The cathedral though is also wonderful and says something about the town itself doesn’t it.
These are all wonderful, I know you treasure your visit and the memories.
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Val,
When I look through my pics, it’s amazing how the cathedral shows itself so often. Glad you enjoyed these.
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I like the ones showing the cathedral. The first place I would go if I were visiting your mom’s hometown would be the cathedral, where I would sit in a middle pew and look around and imagine the lives it had affected.
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Tim,
When I went into the cathedral, it was a bit cool inside! Nonetheless, wonderful!
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Gorgeous. What a wonderful trip. That is a scenic spot for sure.
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SDS,
Very scenic and close to other wonderful spots!
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It looks like such a beautiful place. I like the image of your mother in the square, and the one with the dark clouds (when the rain was leaving).
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Robin,
Thanks … sorry to say, I missed market day … which wasn’t the rain with the rain clouds pic.
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Photo #6 for me. Nice post.
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Fasab,
The one with the green shutters or the Mussolini balcony (which is interesting)? Either way, good choice.
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I was talking about the one with the green shutters for atmosphere, but as you say the Mussolini balcony has added historical interest.
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The green shutters pic is quite appealing. Hope you took a closer look at the balcony pic to see an outcome of ego.
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I love the Cathedral photo–it really gives a sense of the place. Wonderful post–I need to go!
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TBM,
As a small city, the cathedral dominates the skyline …. to me, part of the charm.
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My favorites are the 2 with the stream, I love seeing water flow, it’s very soothing.
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Doggy,
Although small, the swift water dividing the city gives character. FYI: There is a walking trail along the stream!
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What a beautiful town, Frank. I have a very hard time deciding which photo I love best. Each is really special. It’s so interesting from a historical standpoint to see the balcony where Mussolini stood, so that’s a stand out for that reason. I like the one with the stream running through the town. That’s fascinating. But the second photo is probably my favorite for the colors and composition of the houses. What an incredible opportunity to visit your mother’s home town and to be with her sister. That is really special.
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Debra,
I don’t think a day goes by when I don’t think about something about that February trip. Glad you enjoyed the journey.
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Wonderful photos. The first photo was delighted, because I presented also market photos, but in winter.
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Sarendada,
Glad you enjoyed these! I just wish I could have attended the market.
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I love the second photo, for the colour, contrast, and depth. The imagery in the stream photos, is wonderful. And I do really like the cathedral… but, as you might have guessed the first photo is unquestionably my favourite. I found myself scrolling from the first to the last photo, several times, as if time-traveling. Really nice post Frank, thank you for sharing.
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Victoria,
Hooray as I intentionally used the square as bookends, so thanks for catching it! Glad you enjoyed this little journey.
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I like the rain leaving photo!
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Spirit,
It was taken from a balcony several floors up … so that helped make it.
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It’s fascinating that even in a small, relatively unheard of, town in Tuscany, you can still see such beauty and magnificent sites. I’m so happy you got to go visit some of your roots.
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Christine,
As you know, beauty is throughout Italy … and comes in so many forms.
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