While staying in the apartment in Ponte a Serraglio, the lovely owners, Debra & Jim, invited us to lunch at their other home just outside the village of Vergemoli in the Garfagnana National Park. After a 45 minute drive up a very narrow, winding mountain road, we arrived at our meeting place, a quaint little church on the edge of the village.

With knees still trembling, I looked back down the road I had just driven up.

The scenery had a wonderful calming effect

and a friendly spaniel came to greet us.

The walk to the house through peaceful countryside

led to Casa Debbio. Resurrected from ruins in 2012, the house was stunning.

The views from the terrace were breathtaking.

Lunch was delicious. We enjoyed antipasto of fava bean dip, prosciutto & cheese

followed by pork chops cooked to perfection on the barbecue

accompanied by pan-fried potato & onion, little fat sausages (undoubtedly they have an exotic Italian name), salad and homemade bread. Dessert of strawberry trifle topped off a wonderful afternoon. One last look at the vista

and we walked back to the car, bracing ourselves for the drive home.

To see more of Casa Debbio and the wondrous changes to the property, visit Debra’s blog https://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com and website http://www.casadebbio.com