"Exploring the Timeless Charm of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana"

Hello, my dearest friends!

I know I've been a bit absent over the weekend because I had some wonderful experiences with some of my dearest friends whom I hadn’t seen in quite some time. But today, I especially wanted to share with you some photos I took a few weeks ago. I kept forgetting to post them here in the community. These photos are from a place I've visited several times, but I always enjoy returning to it.

Today, I’m sharing with you some photos I took in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, a beautiful village located in the province of Lucca, in Tuscany. I’ll never stop saying it—many people overlook this part of Tuscany, which I find very interesting and beautiful to visit. In fact, I must say that, in some cases, I find it much more natural and untouched compared to the southern part of Tuscany.
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is definitely a well-known place not only for its breathtaking landscapes and clean air but also for its excellent food. I parked outside the historic center, and after just a few steps, you immediately come across this scenic bridge with a very beautiful entrance to the village.

Crossing this bridge is a wonderful experience—it feels a bit like stepping back in time. This village sits at about 270 meters above sea level, and the Serchio River flows right through it. It's not as small as you might think based on the photos, as it has around 6,000 inhabitants, which is quite a lot for a village like this.

After crossing the bridge, you arrive directly in the historic center. As you can see from the photos I’m sharing, the medieval origins of this village are immediately evident. From the informational signs, I learned that it was a strategic location for controlling the entire valley.
The Estensi, the rulers of Ferrara, fortified the village and developed it to improve its defenses. They also contributed to its wealth through trade.

I must say there were quite a few visitors exploring the area, and I found it to be very lively in terms of commerce. In fact, you can still find small village shops offering many artisanal goods.

Continuing my walk, I suddenly found myself in front of the Duomo of Saints Peter and Paul, a religious building dating back to the 1500s. I was able to visit the interior as it was open. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, as I seemed to remember there being beautiful decorations, but there weren’t many apart from a few fairly significant works by important Renaissance artists.

I then continued my exploration and admired the Rocca Ariostesca. Yes, because Ludovico Ariosto, one of the most famous Italian figures, lived here for some time. I discovered this because there was an opportunity to access part of the fortress for free, which I had never done during my previous visits. I must say it was a wonderful experience as it allowed me to see the village from a different perspective. Additionally, part of the Rocca has been transformed into a museum, which, as it turns out, has only recently become accessible.

I hope I’ve managed to convey my emotions through the photos of this exploration in this beautiful village. It’s truly an interesting place, and I highly recommend visiting it if you happen to be in the area. See you in the next post, and I wish you all a great day!