health-giving waters
There are two spas in the province of Massa-Carrara: Equi Terme, on the Northern slopes of the Apuan Alps, and San Carlo. In the Garfagnana, easily reached from Lucca, there is the important spa of Bagni di Lucca. Equi Terme is a typical medieval village in a splendid setting dominated by the Pizzo d’Uccello.

It’s renowned for the springs, already well-known in Roman times, from which water, particularly suitable for the treatment of a number of disorders of an inflammatory nature, flows at a constant temparture of 27 degrees. San Carlo, just outside Massa, is, on the other hand, a spa noted for its bottled water, with a building providing mineral water treatment located in a large park.

It’s also the ideal starting-point for trips to the marble quarries of Colonnata, Fantiscritti and Ravaccione.

Moving over to Garfagnana, Bagni di Lucca is a well known spa and holiday resort in the hills north of Lucca. Its waters are used, above all, to treat disorders of the digestive tract and liver.

walking in a white land
In addition to the innumerable opportunities for traditional climbing, the Apuan Alps offer mountainers interesting vie ferrate (steep stretches with fixed cables, ladders, etc.) and suitably equipped rock faces for those in need of practice. An extensive network of marked paths and numerous refuges allow walkers to explore these fascinating mountains: the clasic traverse of the range takes four days, from Vinca or Equi Terme to Stazzema, staying overnight in the refuges of the Club Alpino Italiano.

The Apuan Alps are also a paradise for speleologists and nature lovers. The Antro del Corchia (70 kilometres of caves with a difference in level of 1210 metres) is largest of the 1300 caves in the Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane, as well as being the biggest in Italy and one of the most important in the world.

The Buca di Equi is a series of caves open to the public: it’s noted for the discovery of artefacts of the Lower Palaeolithic and remains of numerous animals, including a cave-bear, a lion, a leopard, a white Alpine hare and a deer.

The Pietro Pellegrini botanical garden at Pian della Fioba has a range of the rich flora of the Apuan Alps, may be visited in brief tour lasting about an hour.

The best period to see flowers in the bloom is the height of the summer; the garden is open from mid-May to mid-September. Guided tours, led by students of the Tuscan universities, are free.

exploring the area
The best way to see Lunigiana and admire its superb scenery is on foot, especially in the autumn when the leaves turn golden, the smoke from the wood fires hovers above the houses and mushrooms abound in the woods. A circular tour in thirteen stages starting from Aulla comprises portions of both the Apennines and Apuan Alps.

The route follows the old paths across the hillsides that linked medieval villages, country churches, mills and lookout towers.

These are easy toutes, ideal for spring, sutumn and even winter. The villages have unmanned posti tappa (providing basic accommodation), although it’s also possible to stay in small hotels and sample the local cuisine in coutry trattorie.

#The tour may be done on horseback, breaking journey at the numerous della Lunigiana, Via Pietro Cocchi 36, Pontremoli, tel. 0178 330045; 0178 33594). The Magra Valley is ideal for anglers, who will find the rivers and lakes well stocked with trout.

Cyclists can also enjoy themselves: form Aulla to Castlenuovo di Garfagnana passengers can take their bicycles on the trains.

The mountains of Fivizzano, Vinca and Monzone are ideal for free climbing, while it’s possible to descend various stretches of the Magra and the Taverone by canoe.

people as protagonists
Visitors to the Apuan Alps, Lunigiana and Garfagnana will find their stay all the more fascinating thannks to the area’s rich heritage of popular traditions. In addition, throughout the year, there are numerous cultural events, all of considerable interest, involving art, music and literature. For instance, in the field of literature, Pontremoli has the Premio Bancarella in July and Pietrasanta is internationally famous for its art exhibitions.

The village festivals and fairs are often reminders for the local people of important periods in their history or opportunities to revive their relationship, which has never been wholly interrupted, with the rural environment. Thus, for example, in the first ten days of August, Filetto is transformed into the venue of a medieval market as part of an event known as “La via dei mercati”.

For two weekends, during the medieval fair devoted to the crafts and gastronomic specialities of Lunigiana, craftsmen’s workshops are reconstructed where leather, wood, iron and stone are worked and pottery is made: the local people dress in traditional costume and shows and concerts related to the theme are held in the square. Another tradition, which, after being abandoned in recent years, is now being revived is that of the “Maggio”, theatrical performances held in the open, just outside the villages, to celebrate the beginning of spring and the rebirth of the vegetation.

Religions festivals are particularly important, with events such as the passion-play at Fivizzano on Good Friday or creches with living figures in various places in the Garfagnana and Lunigiana.

Originally posted 2009-02-13 17:08:51.