There is nothing quite like taking a plunge in hot thermal water to de-frost your inner-core! I trudged up to the Bagni Bernabo and stood looking out over snow covered Bagni di Lucca musing over the fact that for this time of the year there is barely any water in the river Lima. At the risk of sounding like a ‘meteo’ bird, the weather is rather unusual these days. Freezing but as dry as a biscuit with high winds that cut right through you. So it was wonderful to step into the neo-classical atmosphere of the recently renewed baths and be greeted by Valentina.  She speaks impeccable English and gave me a tour of the beautifully appointed treatment rooms, each with its own original marble bath and then on to the huge marble sunken pool with its gush of steaming thermal water.

I loved the ‘cave’ wall which in a couple of weeks time will be turned into a contemporary glass steam room with sky lights letting in natural light.

The whole place is tranquil and whilst I expected to be hit by some sort of thermal smell (for those of you who have been to Rotorua you will know what I mean!) the baths are filled with crystal clear thermal waters instead of murky brown. The mineral content of these baths claim to improve all sorts of skin conditions and have been lauded since the time of the Romans. As far as I was concerned just sinking into that hot water was therapy enough, but I did come away feeling incredibly relaxed and cleansed.

It is everywhere! We went from having to make our own snow up at the ski resort of Abetone, to shoveling it furiously off our roads and paths – all in sub-zero temperatures!

Whilst stonkingly cold it is gloriously sunny today and the wind is wiping the snow off the mountain peaks and twirling it around – it is truly beautiful!

The Bagni Bernabo have opened and I am planning to go and have a wonderful soak this weekend – nothing like it to release all those knots caused by freezing over!

Meanwhile the cold does not seemed to have dampened the Italians’ joy San Valentino – one way of warming up at any rate!

As I read it, I could just imagine it – in fact I could practically feel it!! This was in a recent article in The Daily Telegraph in which Boris Johnson, Mayor of London talks about his abrupt ski encounter with a small eight year old on the Italian ski slopes of Aosta.

As it turns out, the little boy’s father was so taken by the way Boris kept apologising to his son, he actually wrote an article in the Corriere della Sera  praising the British politicians who don’t take their status too seriously.

It is an interesting fact really when you start comparing the British politicians and their Italian counterparts, the Brits are without doubt very keen on remaining as close to the public as they can, the Italians on the other hand take their role as one that elevates them beyond mere mortals. What with David Cameron refusing to take offence when the Italian waitress suggested he get his own coffee to Berlusconi who used to refuse to step foot outside without an entire entourage, it boils down to those who don’t mind laughing at themselves and have a real sense of their humanity and those who are all about ensuring they look good no matter what, regardless of how the people who depend on them to sort out a mess are getting along.

I must say, the catapulting Brits get my vote!

It might be a tad chilly right now for ice cream but that has not stopped our friend Paolo from opening his second gelateria.  As a matter of duty and in a quest to report back honestly, I had to go to Fornaci di Barga and try out his claims for most delicious gelato – truly scrummy indeed.

The Italians, quite rightly, are very proud of their ice cream production and in order to really get what they are on about you need to steer clear of mass-produced brands and seek out ‘artigianale – produzione propria’ which means home made and totally addictive. Interesting too to see that Paolo is making a yoghurt based range – great, healthy ice cream!

So now that Paolo has two gelaterias under his belt he is going to focus first and foremost on building his different flavours. I love that too of Italian ice creams – they actually have seasonal themes such as chestnut in late Autumn through to zesty grapefruit in the Summer. And the combinations…. creamy vanilla with silky dark streaks of chocolate and fresh ruby red raspberry coulis…. hmmmmmm.

OK so we look forward to seeing where he will crop up next, ice cream cone in hand and that big cheery smile. Good luck Paolo!

The Christmas lights and baubles have been packed away and so now we cast our thoughts towards love – after all we are in one of the world’s most romantic countries – love is never very far from our thoughts. San Valentino  in fact started in the time of the Roman Empire.

In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno,  the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses as well as Goddess of women and marriage.

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel, who was having a hard time getting soldiers to join his military leagues, believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families.  His tender-hearted solution was to cancel all marriages and engagements in Rome.

During this time however Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February.

So a day worth remembering then. We were thinking of celebrating love in a quiet, cultural way ourselves, with plenty of beautiful food and delicious wine and a quick tour of some lesser known local bits of culture.

More on that in the next blog.  Meanwhile we are pulling together your suggestions for most romantic Italian spots – we need a photo to back your suggestion – the winner gets a romantic candlelight dinner for two on 14 February – give it a go!!

I just read a really interesting article on Lonely Planet’s website which got me thinking a little about how the Italian’s view their fabulous food. The range is extensive, the tastes and textures varying from region to region, so much so that you could be forgiven for thinking you are stepping from one country into another. Yet there are common threads…. pasta will be pasta and pizzas abund and good food is to be had whether the dining area has a starched table cloth or a cheap paper one. Food is absolutely central to the whole Italian theatre of life. I recently flew back into Pisa on a late night flight and as I stood waiting for my bags a lone Italian stood nearby and suddenly muttered to himself how he could murder a pasta al pomodoro – it was said with such longing, I too felt suddenly ravenous for some good Italian nosh. One has but to read an Italian recipe to start getting the taste buds going – check out Panini Girl’s blog and you will see what I mean. Meanwhile back at the Corona, our ongoing resolution is to keep up the delicious meals we keep passionately dishing up – and that’s it really, it is the passion which goes with the good ingredients that make Italians such culinary masters – Happy New year to everyone, may it be a year filled with good food, friends and fun!!

All is twinkly and geared up for the festive period which is lovely, guests are enjoying long walks in the mountains and the weather is still quite warm, for the Season.  Meanwhile at the Corona restaurant we have been concentrating on creating delicious Wintry meals that involve lots of locally picked mushrooms and saffron, wild boar and all things chestnut!

Whilst we wait for a proper dump of snow so that Abetone can come into its own we have cast our eye to the health giving properties of ‘taking the waters‘. This really is the time of year when we can most benefit from the thermal baths – quite a part from the fact that this is one of the most relaxing and hedonistic experiences, it boosts our immunity thereby keeping all the Seasonal ‘lurgies’ at bay.

For those who wants a serious dose of minerals there are natural steam rooms cut into the rock face and of course those sumptuous marble baths filled with tingling hot mineral water which really do soak away all aches and pains.

Bagni di Lucca’s most recently refurbished baths just happen to be a mere 5 minutes walk from us, across the river via the footbridge and up on the opposite hill.  It just so happens that Corona guests get a discount up at the Bernabo Baths so thermal bathing is definitely a treat worth investigating right now!!

There is no doubt that for those bitten by the ski bug this has to be the favourite season. Just the thought of crunching through the snow, snapping on those skis and launching off down the slope is enough to get the heartbeat racing. So really it is not a matter of whether but rather where and when. At the risk of putting a downer on the topic there is the inevitable cost factor which these days seems to dominate more…. but give up on going skiing? hardly!

We may be half an hour away from the actual ski slopes but don’t let this put you off as we have managed to negotiate a rather natty little deal – if I say so myself!  From the middle of December onwards all our guests will be given complimentary all-mountain ski passes – for the entire duration of their stay! You may already know this but our local ski resort,  Abetone, tucked 2000 meters up in the Apenines is probably the Florentines best kept snow secret. They probably would rather keep it this way – so apologies to them in advance!

Now if having free ski lifts isn’t enough to lure you, consider too that one of the most hedonistic ways of enjoying a good day’s skiing is by taking a dip in one of the nearby thermal pools – just a few minutes away from our front door. That and a well deserved massage – what better way to iron out over-skied muscles?

So – all we need is the white stuff and the dream will be complete – bound to happen soon!

Turns out it was Naomi Berrill and her husband and fellow band member Alessandro Colombo. They were more than happy to talk about their Home Made Music and in the end they suggested putting together a short piece for us – seems they hang out in all sorts of places from beautiful villas to small trattorias playing the music that the spot inspires in them. Modern day troubadours if you like! So of course we were rather delighted with the piece Naomi selected which in her mind represented Hotel Corona – check it out and let me know what you think!

Bit surprising, I hear you mutter, as you check out the turkeys and grab another pack of fairy lights, but this is part of a four weekend-long celebration of Lucca’s culinary traditions – Il Desco.

This event focuses on local wine and food and is being held in Lucca’s cloisters as well as the Real Collegio. This just goes to show how much store the Italians put on their food – and why not – theirs is wonderful and nutritious food. Certainly right now I can guarantee you only a handful of folk in the UK will be thinking of spelt, and even the French with all their love of food are probably more intent on stuffing their geese – ok possibly with spelt… but still!

Last weekend in Lucca was dedicated to the bean (faggiolo) and the following weekend is all about chestnuts and then we move to cigars and chocolates – well ok – desert – got to be a little less healthy every now and then.

What I love is the devotion and passion with which the Italians talk about their food – Il Desco has been likened to an art exhibition and frankly that’s what it is like – only rather than just enjoying the visual experience you get to taste and inhale the exhibits – much more satisfying by far!!