In the village

Bar Alma Di Bianco Leonardo

There’s one bar in the village on the main road. It’s a typical local bar with seating inside and out, table football, drinks, snacks etc. If you sit there for a while it feels like the whole village is popping in and out. You can also get alcohol to take away. It has a squat toilet.

Vallinella

Behind the church is this recently reopened sports and social club. It has facilities for tennis and bocce (bowling game similar to bowls and boules). The bar is open from 9pm every night in the summer and is run by volunteers. Much better for families and youngsters than Bar Alma.

Il Giardinetto

This restaurant and pizzeria has a lovely shady garden and serves good local dishes at a very reasonable price. It has a fized price (€13) pranzo di lavoro at lunch time. It is very popular with the locals. Don’t bother with the mixed salad.

Pizzeria Shalomi

Right next to the bar is a good pizzeria with an outside seating area at the back. The owners are lovely and speak very good English. You can find the menu here.

New Pizzeria

A new pizzeria has opened recently right next door to the bakers on Via Nuova.

Butchers

There are two butchers in the village.

This one is opposite the church on Via Nuova and is a good general butcher
This one is on Via della Ruga and sells the most fabulous beef and prosciutto reared on their own farm

Alimentari

Opposite the butcher on Via della Ruga is a shop that sells fruit and vegetables and other groceries.

General store

Right by the butcher on Via Nuova this is a bit of an open all hours shop with all sorts of stuff

Baker

A little further up Via Nuova is a baker. Apart from the focaccia, the bread is rather disappointing.

Agricultural supplies

On the main road behind the zoo is the agricultural supplies store.

Post office

The post office is located next to the agricultural supplies shop.

Pharmacy

The pharmacy has recently moved here. Turn left at the bottom of the hill and head towards Lucca. You will see the pharmacy on your left. I believe there are a couple of doctors at the same location.

Olio Colle

We have been told that this oil producer does not exclusively sell local oil. Other oils are, apparently, sold or blended with locally produced oil. Oil from the local cooperative Frantoio just done the road here is better.

Donkeys

We have two friends who live up the road here. They like apples and carrots and their owner is happy to have passers by feed them.

Roberto farms the land immediately above us on the other side of the gora. We are not yet entirely sure which house he lives in.

In the house above us live Nicola, Piero and Morena. They are friendly and helped me get my new mower going when I was struggling.

Next to Laura and Stefano is the house of Giovannini. He is a retired plumber and his sons now ron the business. He has a large house to sell in San Ginese nearby.