Informations
Region: TOSCANA
Province code: LU
Zip code: 55032
Phone area code: 0583
Distance from LUCCA 45 Km / 28 Miles
Elevation: 227 mt / 747 feet
CASTELNUOVO
The capital of this mountain area,
has origins dating back to the 8th century. Until 1429,
it was under the dominion of the Republic of Lucca, then
it was ruled almost uninterruptedly by the Estensi until
1814. The earthquake in 1920 and then the Second World War
devastated the ancient town centre. Nowadays Castelnuovo
is an industrial centre.
Castelnuovo (277 m s.l.m.) It is the chief town and the
heart of the green Garfagnana the northern part constitutes
some valley of the river Serchio contained between the mountainous
buttresses of the Apuans alps Apuane and the Appennino.
Km. is being far from Lucca and the Versilia 40 Km.

Situated at an altitude of 277 metres, Castelnuovo
is the principal town and the heart of the green Garfagnana
area, a territory that constitutes the northern part of
the valley of the Serchio River, which runs between the
mountain walls of the Apuan Alps and the Appenines. The
town is 40 km from both Lucca and the Versilia coast.
The ancient outlying villages of Palleroso, Monterotondo,
Antisciana, Gragnanella, Cerretoli, Colle and Rontano are
beautifully situated and accessible on country paths through
green woodland. A walk to these villages allows visitors
to be in contact with nature and at the same time to discover
the traditional daily rhythms of an agricultural people
and to admire their rural architecture.
The town's patron is St Peter, with his feast day on 29
June.
The main festivities include the Carnival, with its processions
of floats and masked celebrants, Commerce Week in August,
and the traditional September Fair featuring folklore, sport,
music, gastronomy and artisan activities. But all the way
from June to October there is continuous cultural activity,
with the outlying villages featuring traditional popular
events. From Castelnuovo the most important tourist sites
of the Serchio Valley can be quickly reached. There is trekking
on foot or on horseback, mountain-bike itineraries, modern
and efficient sports facilities for any sort of activity
– from swimming to tennis, football and athletics.
Palleroso, Monterotondo, Antisciana,
Gragnanella, Cerretoli, Colle and Rontano are the carattenstiche
little towns of ancient origin placed in striking environments
and with paths that crossing green woods allow a dive in
the nature finding out the history of a rural population
with his daily rhythms and the architecture of the civilization
to the same time.
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