In northern Tuscany, surrounded by the Apuan Alps in the west and the Apennines to the east lies the Garfagnana region. This mountainous area has a lot to offer but has not yet discovered by mass tourism. The number of tourists is growing however and provides a welcome addition to the local economy, which mainly consists of agriculture, livestock, and forestry. Well known products from the region are Farina di Neccio della Garfagnana (chestnut flour) and Farro della Garfagnana (spelt).

Although the region mainly consists of mountains and forests, there are also possibilities for bathing and water sports. The Serchio river cuts through the valley, and there are several artificial lakes created by the energy company ENEL.

With its many forests, La Garfagnana is a paradise for hikers, but there are also numerous small towns and villages to visit like the capital Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Barga Castiglione di Garfagnana and Vagli Sotto.

Well worth a visit is La Grotta del Vento (Wind Cave) with its beautiful stalactite formations.

In July, I paid a short visit to the area, certainly not long enough to see all this beautiful region has to offer, but enough to get a good first impression.

To give you an idea what La Garfagnana is like I’m sharing a couple of photos below.