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The Garfagnana is a mysterious land, sometimes inaccessible, full of story and traditions; an Eden between green hills and the rocky Apuane Alps.

The Mid Serchio River Valley, on the Garfagnana border, is perhaps a less-known spot among the others, charming though because of its unique landscapes. It is named after the river which crosses it through its whole lenght; its water, fed by numerous torrents, created ravines like the Botri "orrido" with its steep walls on which the eagles nest.

Due to the peculiar conformation of the territory, which does not allow an extensive development of the cultivations, agriculture is here a "secondary" business. Living in our places has always meant "sweat and tears" because of the intensive work required to get new land for cultivations from the woods, and most of all from the continuous "shaping" the ground especially in favor of the chestnut tree, basic everyday-life product for the local population. Of course, because of that many trees like oaks and white pines  became in the past fire wood.

Nowadays though, those trees regained their natural habitat and many animals, once on the way to extinction, are back in our woods. So it's now easy enough to see owls, deers, fallow-deer, roe-deer and boars; numerous are also foxes, hares and squirrels, groundhogs and big birds of prey.

Today's Mid Serchio River Valley means untouched habitats, high mountain trails, naturalistic oasis; the best choice for any kind of excursion (hiking, horseback or bike).

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From spring to late autumn the Mid Serchio River Valley offers many opportunities of both outdoors and indoor sport activities in its many sport facilities. Many chances of one-day hikes from the numerous trails on the Appenini mountains side, both short and easy and longer and more "technical". The ancient Appennini montain roads, once used for salt shipping and for the various mountain trades, can be at present times used by horseback tourism enthusiastics (many horse ranches all over the territory) and also mountain bike fans.

The Lima torrent, which flows from the Pistoia mountains toward Bagni di Lucca, it's a must for canoe fans; in Fabbriche di Casabasciana the "Fuori Rotta" canoe club offers training courses. The mountains over Borgo a Mozzano offer unique takeoff spots for "free-flying"; we also have in Diecimo a free flying training school (Fly T).

Trout fishing is also very common in our numerous torrents and man-made lakes; the trout is also bred and sold in many facilities in our area. We have also many tennis courts and soccer fields with various amateur tournaments in the summer, besides the regular winter sport activity.

An ancient and typical sport is the so called "tiro della forma". It's like throwing a cheese "forma" on some sort of a bowling alley; this game is played in the Piano di Coreglia on saturday and sunday afternoon.

Between sport and excursion is mushroom picking, common at the end of summer before fall dews.

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Mid Serchio River Valley cooking, like every mountain areas cooking, takes after the local tradition of an "essential" agricolture. Corn flour, spelt, chestnuts, mushrooms and pork meat are a few typical ingredients of our valley's cooking tradition.

Our many restaurants offer for example the "polenta" with mushrooms, the spelt "minestrone" (soup), varioustyoes of home-made pasta, local sausages etc.. Of course, prices are always interesting!