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THE GARFAGNANA AREA
Someone has called the green island of Tuscany and in fact this valley,
but close to important historical towns such as Lucca, Pisa, Florence
and the flamboyant and fashionable Versilia, was closed in itself,
living its own history and building a strong identity that still
retains. From Garfagnana you can easily reach famous historical centers
as Lucca, Pisa and Firenze, as well as the sparkler Riviera della
Versilia, La Spezia and le Cinque Terre. Closer, almost a unique part
with Valley, Lunigiana, with its castles, Serchio Media Valley, that
with its Devil's Bridge (Ponte del Diavolo) in Borgo a Mozzano let start
the geographical entrance to the Lucca province mountain area, we share
with Alta Versilia a good part of our mountain chain.
The Apuan Alps, which divide to the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and the
Apennine Mountains to the east, enclosing the valley like a casket.
Garfagnana, literally Great Forest, so this valley seemed to its first
visitors and even today you will be astonished in front of the extension
of its lush forests. Man-planted, cared for and cultivated the chestnut
up to 1000 meters above sea level, wild, intricate, finally the beech
which go up, over 1700 meters and, year after year, trying to regain the
heights of mountains nude.In this immense mass of green appear, almost
suddenly, perched on a hill, perched on the high plains that slope
towards the river, overhanging on vertiginous cliffs, the many small
towns that characterize the Valley. Ruts in the narrow streets, inside
the medieval defensive walls, time passes slowly, the rhythms are those
of the past, the games of boys the same for centuries, the "workshops"
have an antique perfume.
the Valley is a real invitation to enjoy a relaxing holiday, relax on
the edge of a swimming pool or lying on a fragrant meadow of "pepolino"
(wild thyme), silently listening to the sounds of nature that surrounds
us.
Let yourself be enthralled by this goslow, it will be easy to discover
hidden corners of the Valley which offer entirely different aspects to
the change of the seasons: the footpath, landscape, Woods, colours every
time will be for you a new emotion. |
