The best traffic-free bike rides around Pieve Fosciana

The Rocca Ariostesca is a medieval fortified military structure located in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. The rocca is the symbol of the city and overlooks the central Piazza Umberto I. It owes its name to having been the seat of the Este government and to having hosted, from 1522 to 1525, as governor of the Garfagnana of the Este, the poet Ludovico Ariosto, who was succeeded in the following century by Fulvio Testi. A small outpost already existed on the site in the 10th century, but it can be said that the original structure of the Rocca as we know it today dates back to the 12th century; modified throughout the 13th century, it was significantly enlarged in the early 14th century by Castruccio Castracani, who determined an enlargement of the entire village walls. It was then Paolo Guinigi who ordered the construction of the imposing tower located in the center of the Rocca, adorned with the civic clock, which over time was also used as a prison. The terrace overlooking the square was erected in 1675, coinciding with the opening of the monumental arch of access to the city center. The internal furnishings have been lost, among which the tapestries that adorned the "Sala dei Principi" (Hall of the Princes) are known. The Rocca was damaged during the Second World War and subsequently restored. As a venue for exhibitions and cultural events, it houses the Archaeological Museum in its halls, which preserves numerous artifacts and testimonies from the prehistoric, Ligurian-Apuan, and Etruscan periods in Garfagnana.

Just a few steps through the cobbled alleys and sandstone houses are enough to understand that San Romano has a story to tell. The Ligures Apuani lived here first, then the Romans; and when the ancient Gherardinghi and Conti di Bacciano families abandoned the village, the town had its moment of pride, giving itself its own statutes before passing under Lucca and the Este family. The heart of the settlement beats around the church of San Romano Martire, where the saint is carved in wood in Roman legionary attire, topped by an imposing 18th-century organ. A few meters away opens the elegant Palazzo Pelliccioni-Marazzini, with its scenic arched terraces: today it houses the Archaeological Museum of the territory, with artifacts ranging from the Neolithic period to findings from the Fortezza delle Verrucole.

The small hamlet of Orzaglia, nestled on a plateau just outside the classic routes of Garfagnana, is surrounded by ancient chestnut groves and fields of spelt. Walking through these woods, you will encounter gnarled and imposing tree trunks, plants that have watched over the valley for hundreds of years and tell the story of those who cared for them generation after generation. For Garfagnana, the chestnut was never just a tree. For centuries, it was "the bread tree": its chestnuts, dried in metati (drying rooms) and ground in water mills, yielded neccio flour — today a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) — that fed entire mountain communities during the hardest times. Masters of grafting and pruning, the people of Garfagnana have preserved dozens of different varieties over time, transforming these slopes into a true living safe of biodiversity.

The seismic adaptation works on the lake dam by ENEL have been completed and the reservoir has been fixed, the final step of the works, namely the filling of the lake, has begun, which is proceeding, albeit slowly. Every week the water level rises to restore the lake to its beauty and to a resting place for the migratory and resident birds that lived or passed through here.

I confirm the interpretation. The writing is frequent in Trentino and even more in Alto Adige. Nice!

Castelnuovo di Garfagnana - Tea Time Sunday, the locals in the new castle are also enjoying the peace. The apostles Peter and Paul invite us into the shade of their modest prayer house (Parrocchia Abbaziale dei SS. Apostoli Pietro e Paolo). The holy water is bubbling… The tea ceremony is a feast for the eyes when the tea bag changes the water in color and scent. After a short toast we bring comfort to Don Quixote. Seated on his horse Rocinate at Rocca Ariostesca, (old city gate) he continues his battle alone… Wandering further through the empty alleys and streets, students in Teatro Alfieri manage to entertain us with a matinée. Students put their best foot forward while fellow students, with crossed fingers, encourage the main character. Exam passed It was nice to be in the new castle during our tea time. Read more experiences? Click through to https://www.komoot.com/en-gb/collection/2195535/-visit-italy-2023-regio-massa-carrara-lucca

A rather inconspicuous building from the outside but with a beautifully decorated entrance door

Lake Pontecosi was born in 1925 with the damming of the Serchio river. It is a perfect stopping point during a ride because on its banks there are picnic areas and fishing spots.