MrGreen

We will be spending a week in Florence as part of our trip to Italy this coming October. I have been looking for an ideal off-the-beaten-path location for a day trip.

We will not be renting a vehicle during this trip, so it must either be accessible via public transportation or possibly part of a guided tour. I know that the train runs through the Garfagnana from Lucca.

Has anyone been to the Garfagnana? Is it a worthy one-day diversion from the cities, art, and architecture that will compose the majority of our trip? The pictures I've seen make it look like an incredible destination. How much time would be required to get there and take in some of the scenery? Any other practicalities?

Thanks!

sssteve

I doubt that many prople have been to Garfagnana. I have been to the general area and visited the nearby village of Barga, which was absolutely stunning.

If you check out my webpage about this trip, you will find some information. Do not be deterred when you see that the page is about a trip from Gubbio to Lake Orta. In the middle we stayed 3 days in Lucca as well, and from there drove into the beautiful mountains north of Lucca which is where Garfagnana is. I know nothing about train access there as we had a car.

http://www.travel.stv77.com/umbria/umbria1.htm

jabez

Steve
Thanks for your report. I think we will plan on 3 or 4 nights there this fall.
Do you happen to see any nice places to stay at?

MrGreen

Thanks for the information, Steve. I enjoyed your pictures. I will check out the links on your trip report.

sssteve

jabez - if you're talking about lodgings in the Appuan alps, (Barga - Garfagnana area) we did see a modest hotel in Barga, and I assume there are B&B's and agritourismos available but we didn't do much research in this direction because we were staying in Lucca. We enjoyed Lucca very much. It's perfectly located to visit the Tuscan coast as well as the Garfagnana area.