The Wild Heart of Tuscany: The Maremma
The Garfagnana is a beautiful mountainous region of Tuscany nestled between the Alpi Apuane and the Apennines and crossed by the river Serchio. A land rich in legend, history, culture and nature.
The area is home to many, beautifully kept medieval villages, such as Barga, dating back to the 14th century. For lovers of Italian literature, it is worth visiting the home of Giovanni Pasocli, just outside Castelvecchio, where the poet lived from 1895 to his death in 1912.
Travelling inland past Vergemoli and Fornovolasco you will climb up towards the atmospheric Hermitage of Calomini. Set on a sheer mountain side, the hermitage goes back 15m into the mountain and the vestry has been built into the rock.
Potholers are regular visitors to this part of the Garfagnana and the area near Mount Forata and the Pania della Croce is home to numerous caves and gorges. Here you will find the famous ‘Grotta del Vento' or ‘ Wind Cave' , one of the most complete European caves and the only one offering three completely different itineraries.
Castelnuovo Garfagnana is the main town of the area with an interesting historical centre. Further on towards the Alpi Apuane you will reach Careggine, and then Vagli famous world-wide for the deserted village which emerges every 10 years from the bottom of the lake.
From Vagli continue on to Campo Catino, a valley originally created by a glacier and now an unusual, wide green plateau scattered with the odd stone shepherds hut. Further down is the town of Piazza al Serchio, which grew up close to the river Serchio and was an important commercial town during the middle ages.
Close by is San Romano di Garfagnana, set on top of a steep hill side dominating the valley, and the Verrucola fortress of the Estensi which has been restored and now hosts many historical reenactments and events.
Finally, the Regional Park ‘Orecchiella' is definately worth a visit. Made up of a vast area of wood land rich in flora and fauna you can spot animals roving freely, especially deer and boar and wolves, or visit the beers in their reserve. There are many footpaths for all levels throughout the park as well as a botanical garden, mountain garden and visitor centre.
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