a valley poised between Apennines and the Apuan Alps
To the East are the Apennines, to the West the Apuan Alps. In the middle the Serchio valley, which from Ponte a Moriano to Gallicano is named Media Valle and from here on is called Garfagnana.
This is from the historical and bureaucratic point of view. Then, who comes from outside, identifies with the name of "Garfagnana" the whole Serchio valley, which in fact has morphological and environmental characteristics completely identical.
The Apennine side is mainly made up of sandstone, the peaks of the mountains are rounded and covered with pastures. Much harsher, on the opposite side, are the Apuan peaks, made of limestone and dolomite rock, with vertical and sharp ridges, pointed rock towers and breathtaking views of the Tyrrhenian coast, Liguria, and further away up to the sight of Mount Monviso.
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is the administrative center of this region, but there are dozens of villages and places to visit. The most beautiful, in my opinion, are the smallest villages: Corfino, Minucciano, Vergemoli, Colognora, Trassilico just to name a few. All of them with precious architectural details, winding and often covered alleys that adapt their ways to the side of the mountain, the grim stone appearance softened by the ubiquitous geraniums.
On the Apennine side the Orrido di Botri (Montefegatesi) and the Wildlife park of Orecchiella (Corfino) with its wonderful beech woods and the frontal views on the Apuan Alps are two really unmissable places for those who love hiking in the primitive beauty of Nature.
On the Apuan side the roads climb the side of the mountains, narrow and winding, and you have to be very careful driving! Characteristic of this area are the picturesque reservoirs of Vagli, Gramolazzo, and Isola Santa, which were created for the production of electricity in circumstances that were at times dramatic for the residents, but have become over time irresistible tourist attractions, with the peaks of the Apuane perfecly reflecting in their turquoise, still waters.
I chose 40 photos from my archive to bear witness to "my favorite Garfagnana" and, as an old enthusiast of this land, it was not an easy choice. Then, I uploaded the remaining material as editorial photo archive.
Several of these images have been published in Italian travel magazines such as "Meridiani", "Qui Touring" and "Condè Nast Traveler".
To view the Garfagnana editorial photo archive I have uploaded to this websites, please click here
