Informations on Barga a medieval hilltop town in Tuscany.
Region: TOSCANA
Province code: LU
Zip code: 55051
Phone area code: 0583
Distance from LUCCA 37 Km / 23 Miles
Elevation: 410 mt / 1349 feet

Barga with its cobbled lanes and impressive duomo is a natural beauty and quaint village Timeless Beauty Untouched by mass tourism, more than picturesque, Barga is a gem: ancient, immaculate and prosperous, it attracts only the discerning.
Barga is an ancient hamlet in an incredible location on an outcrop which has retained its medieval foundations, narrow streets, tiny squarea and steep stairwells. At the top is the 12th century cathedral with an impressive panoramic view.


Barga is known for its historic monuments, artistic richness, from atop the hill visitors can see the green valley of the Serchio river and Apuan Alps, renowned for their marble quarries, and the less rugged Appenines. Nature lovers walk in the nearby mountain woods.

The ancient town of Barga is situated in the valley of the river Serchio on the edge of the Garfagnana Region. The original historical center of town still remains. The old houses are gathered around the dominant cathedral dating back to before the year 1000. The town seems protected by its surrounding walls.
This entire valley is situated between the green Apennines and the rockier Apuan chain (with its marble quarries).

The area of Garfagnana is famous for the nearby Wind Cave in the Apuane range and the Nature Park of the Orecchiella. Barga hosts traditional folkloric and musical events such as Opera Barga and Barga Jazz.

Historically, the area has close links with Scotland, where many barghigiani emigrated in the early part of the century, often to work in the catering trade.

Barga is located to the Serchio valley The Garfagnana, is rich in traditions like great poets: Ludovico Ariosto Giovanni Pascoli (His house in Castelvecchio)

British and American painters have found ample inspiration both in Barga and the surrounding region.

Barga is the perfec location from which to explore churces, strongholds, castles and fortresses.

Barga is famous for it's summer music festival

For lover of the outdoors, the area offers the lure of several trekking excursions surrounded by natural beauty.

In the Apuan Alps, famed for their marble quarries, trekkers can visit Monte Forato noted for a natural stone arch spanning 30 m (100ft), and the Pania. The cave Grotta del Vento

The close Lake of Vagli where at the bottom is visible through the water the old ghost village of Fabbriche di Careggine.

In this area you can also find the canyon of the "Orrido di Botri" , "Lago Santo" and "Lago Baccio", "San Pellegrino in Alpe" with a museum devoted to the artifacts of daily life.
Also it is possible to watch and participate in the husbandry of the land. Facilities for horseback riding, mountain biking and canoeing abound.

Activities
You can ski at Le Radici and Abetone the home of Zeno Colo` the world's first skiing champion. During the winter you can enjoy cross-country skiing, and trekking in the summer.

The Duome of Barga Construction was completed between the 1500 and 1600 with the addition of two chapels and the choir. The duomo was damaged in the earthquake of 1920 and has since been restored.
The church sits on the crown of the hill on around which the whole town clusters and at the front there is a terrace that gives an almost unbroken 360 degree view of the surrounding hills and valleys.

The cathedral was originally founded in the 9th century and then added to over the next four hundred years.

Barga has two distinct areas - Barga Vecchia and Barga Giardino. Barga Vecchia is the walled part and is a maze of small piazzas, ageless shops and galleries and narrow climbing streets which culminates in the duomo. Barga Vecchia is where you can find the Tourist Office, The Teatre dei Differente (Opera Barga) and the internationally famous Caffe Capretz

Barga Giardino is the newer district and here is where you will find all the shops and stores to take care of all your holiday needs from banking to supermarkets, gelateria to corner shops.

Visitors can admire a marvellous panorama, including Barga Castello, the Apuan Alps, going from the Pizzorne highlands to the Pania group to the Pisanino mountain, several small towns on the opposite side of the valley, and the river Serchio flowing in the valley below. To the right, the hamlet of Tiglio and the town of Coreglia Antelminelli can be seen, nested in the the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

Giovanni Pascoli to write his renown poem "L'Ora di Barga".

Giovanni Pascoli - poet. He was born in 1855 in San Mauro di Romagna (afterwards, in 1932 the town was named San Mauro Pascoli in honour of our famous poet); he died in 1912 in Bologna, his corpse is buried in Castelvecchio di Barga in Tuscany.

"I was looking for a secluded and solitary place..."
I came to Barga. I saw that "There it was beautiful" and staied
.....in these places "There is good."
"Where there is beauty and goodness, the heart of the artist has nothing more to desire.." Giovanni Pascoli, poet, wrote in "Il Bargeo" 1896

Open area Map

Main distances from Barga a charming
village in the “Valle del Serchio” in the famous "Garfagnana" area
Pisa Airport 60 km
Lucca 40 km
Seaside Viareggio 60 km
Bagni di Lucca 20 km Florence 110 km