Tuscan Towns
From La Mezzaluna hotel, you can easily reach the most beautiful and appealing Tuscan villages and towns in the surrounding area.
BARGA: at the border of the Garfagnana region, Barga, has been recognised as ‘One of the most beautiful villages in Italy’, and has been given recognition by both the ‘Bandiera Aranicone Touring Club’ (Orange Flag Touring Club) and by the ‘Città Slow’ (Slow City) movement. The adopted home of Giovanni Pascoli, Barga is a medieval village of rare beauty, from its Duomo, to the ancient aqueduct and the museum that was once home to Giovanni Pascoli.
CASTELNUOVO GARFAGNANA: a medieval centre beside the River Serchio, Castelnuovo Garfagnana’s historical heart is encircled by an ancient fortress. It’s rich in local artisans and restorers and a place where you can taste the true traditional dishes of Garfagnana. Not to be missed is the path of Ariosto: a beautiful walk leading to the Fortezza di Montalfonso where the views are spectacular.
LUCCA: a must-see is the beautiful historic town of Lucca. The large circular wall which borders the town is still accessible today, and you can walk or cycle there. Once inside the walls you can visit innumerable churches, surrounded by piazzas, courts, medieval towers, buildings and gardens. Among them is La cattedrale di S.Martino which is particularly worth a visit. At the heart of the town is via Fillungo, offering numerous shops and small boutiques rich with typical produce from the area, ‘il Buccellato’ (a sweet Tuscan bread), cured meats and honey, for example. Finally there’s the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, a famous circular piazza which in ancient times was the marketplace.
PISA: about an hour's drive from the hotel, Pisa is famous the world over for its Leaning Tower, and the magnificent Piazza dei Miracoli.
During the year, in the Serchio Valley and Garfagnana area there are many concerts, traditional and medieval celebrations, countryside festivals, theatre festivals and shows like the Barga Jazz.
