Orecchiella park, natural reserves

Bear

“Orecchiella” Park was born in the 1960s. It includes the Regional State Forest and three nature reserves (Orecchiella, Lamarossa and Pania di Corfino).  In the Apennine part of the Garfagnana region, one can find this natural reserve rich in flora and fauna with deers, roe deers and wolves roving freely in the wilderness.
Many species of birds, some migratory, have found their home in this ideal habitat.
The Royal Eagles, always present on the Pania di Corfino, have extended their hunting territory up to the summits of Monte Prato and Monte Vecchio.  The mountain flower garden with wonderful summer flowers  and the botanic garden “Piana di Corfino” will fascinate wildlife lovers.
The Visitors’ Center hosts reception facilities, the Nature Museum and the Museum of Birds of Prey.
The Nature Museum presents dioramas of ungulates in dynamic situations, as well as a series of three-dimensional panels which illustrate the cycle of the traditional natural elements (air, water, earth, fire).
The Museum of Birds of Prey presents the life-size reproduction of an eagle’s nest, informational panels on diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey, and display cabinets with stuffed specimens.

This Park can be reached from Castelnuovo by following the directions for Villa Collemaldina and Corfino.

For contacts:
Phone +39 0583 619098 or +39 0583 955525
Fax +39 0583 619002

GPS: 44°12’14.85″N  10°21’28.91″E

www.ingarfagnana.it
www.alpiapuane.com

Village Follonica, Tuscany

Cala Violina

Follonica is a town and comune (township) of the province of Grosseto in  Tuscany.  Follonica is   about 40 km  north west of the Grosseto.
It was founded in 1834 by Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany for the workers of a new ironworks plant. However, the area was already settled in Etruscan and Roman times. The ruins of the medieval castle Castello di Valli, built in 884 AD, overlook the modern town from a nearby hill.
Follonica is a popular tourist site during the summer for Italians. The city has been awarded the Bandiera Blu (“Blue Flag”) every year  for the cleanliness of its beaches and seawater.

The most important beaches are:

Cala Violina
Carbonifera
Torre Mozza
Pratoranieri
Cala Martina

More informations on:
www.comune.follonica.gr.it
www.follonica-apartments.com
www.prolocofollonica.it

Bagni di Lucca, Tuscany

The Casino, now part of tourist office

Bagni di Lucca, “land of princes and poets”, is the largest mountain commune in Italy with a great number of hamlets.  It is situated in the valleys of the rivers Serchio and Lima, surrounded by green hills covered with century-old forests of chestnut trees.
Scattered in the area are many elegant mansions of the 19th century, surrounded by rich gardens populated with rare plant species, which poets and musicians used as a romantic retreat and source of inspiration, while royalty found a refuge from the turmoil of busy European capitals.
Inhabited since the Bronze Age, as shown by remains of Ligurian sepulchres of the 8th century BC, the area was known for its mineral springs by Etruscan and Romans, and a Roman settlement was established at Villa Therentiana (presently Pieve dei Monti di Villa).
In the 11th century AD the valley was a fiefdom of powerful Tuscan families.
Bagni the main spa center in Italy, welcoming guests from all over Europe.
In Napoleonic times the place was a favorite retreat of the Buonaparte family, coming for the spas as well as for a casino. After the Congress of Vienna, the Dukedom of Lucca became an international court, and Bagni was the summer retreat.
After 1860, when Tuscany was included in the kingdom of Italy, the decadence of the place as a fashionable resort began.

Points of Interest:
Villa Ada, a previous Renaissance mansion of the local De Nobili family, was renovated in the 19th century by a British consul who added the two 6-sided towers, and surrounded it with large, romantic gardens, including also an artificial grotto. It is now a property of the municipality, and is used for spa therapies.
Thermal Baths, already known in Roman times, and a spa center documented since the Middle Ages, had visitors from all over Europe since medieval times. The spas consist of 19 natural springs with different concentrations of calcium and sulphur, and a maximum temperature of 54 degrees centigrade.
Orrido di Botri is a  natural reserve in a deep canyon of great beauty, preserving rare plant species and hosting many rare rapacious birds, as the royal eagle and the owl.
Devil’s Bridge, also called ‘Maddalena’s Bridge, was constructed during the era of the Countess Matilde di Canossa (1046-1115).
This medieval bridge spans the Serchio River and is said to have been built with the aid of the devil himself.
Sitting on now submerged islets, there are five asymmetrical arches.

Some links:
www.termebagnidilucca.it
www.comunebagnidilucca.it

Tuscany itinerary

Orrido di Botri - Little stream

Tuscany itinerary: Serchio Middle Valley

This area offers important historical centres such as Coreglia Antelminelli, known as one of the most beautiful italian “borghi” (village) with its Museo delle Statuine di Gesso (Chalk Figurine Museum), the Ghivizzano Castle, Bagni di Lucca a thermal spa town, www.termebagnidilucca.it; Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge) at Borgo a Mozzano and the Orrido di Botri and Balzo nero Natrural Reserve.
In Colognora di Pescaglia, you can find the Museo del Castagno (Chestnut Museum) www.museodelcastagno.it and at Celle Puccini, the museum of the great musician Giacomo Puccini, where he spent his childhood holidays.
The itinerary from Pescaglia to Fabbriche di Vallico permitts you to visit some “ferriere” iron-foundrues which are still operative like the ironworks Galgani, the one at Aiola or Gragliana.
The mallets powered by water still forge the iron in the century old tradition, making agricultural tools and the “testi” (round metal flat irons), indispensable accessory to cook the famous “necci” with ricotta cheese, the “crisciolette” or the “focacce leve” simple local traditional plates.

Tuscan tours

Italian vegetables

Tuscan tour, Pistoia city.

Pistoia, the second largest city in Tuscany, is a town not to be missed. Standing between Monte Albano and the Appennines, the town is rich in Roman history. There is a strong medieval feel to the town and its reputation for murderous citizens (dating from the Guelphs) has persisted since the 13th century!
The word “pistol” is derived from the dagger originally used by Pistoiese and the ironwork tradition continues to this day.
The city is also famous for the production of embroideries and confectionary.
Here in the center of town, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, you will find the famous Pistoia fresh produce market. It is a beautiful site to behold. Trying to decide what to buy is a difficult decision  as there are so many choices.
Whatever your decision, you will be getting the best fresh food available.
Buon appetito!

Leslie Halloran
Please check out my website at: www.lihdesigns.net