Things to Do
Music and Cultural
Barga has many buildings of historical interest including, of course,
its famous Duomo. It is also within easy reach of Florence and Lucca.
There are annual, international jazz and opera festivals as well as a weekly
jazz club which runs throughout the year. The local theatre:
"Teatro dei Differenti" presents regular performances, many of which are free.
A good source of information on events is http://www.barganews.com/index.html This is a locally-produced site with a wealth of information on all things Barga, including Opera barga and barga Jazz.
Sports and Outdoor Activities
Swimming
There is a fine outdoor pool in Barga with a cafe which is open in the summer months. Indoor pools are available in Gallicano and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana.
Tennis
Barga has an excellent tennis club with outdoor and indoor courts which can be hired (along with racquets on an hourly basis at very reasonable rates. lessons can also be arranged.Riding
About 2 minutes' drive from Barga, there is the friendly "Club Ippicio di Barga".
Lessons are available at 15 euros per hour or 100 euros for 10 lessons.
Walking
The Garfagnana region is bounded on one side by the Apennines and, on the other, by the Alpi Apuane.
The whole area is rich in easy-to-follow trails marked by the CAI , (Italian Alpine Club).
Barga lies between the Alpi Apuane and the Appennines,
both of which are about half an hour's drive away
There are five short marked trails in the immediate vicinity, each 2-3 km in length. See: Carta dei Sentieri e Rifugi 1:25000 map sheet no. 20, "Media Valle del Serchio".
The Alpi Apuane are, as the name suggests, Alpine in nature with craggy, rugged
features. They are about 10km fom Barga. The magnificent Pania Della Croce rises to 1858m and, with
its neighbours, Monte Forato and Pania Secca, forms the distinctive "Uomo Morto"
ridge which dominates the Barga skyline. The spectacular natural arch on Monte Forato forming
the open mouth of the "Dead Man".
Although there are plenty of routes for climbers and serious ski tourers, most of the marked trails can be tackled by anyone.
Details of mountain huts' opening
times and contact numbers are to be found on the back of the. Carta dei Sentieri
e Rifugi 1:25000 map sheet nos 101 & 102 - "Parco delle Alpi Apuane" or Carta Turistica e
dei Sentieri 1:50000: "Versilia Parco Delle Alpi Apuane"
For further information, visit www.alpiapuane.com, (Italian only),dedicated to the Apuan Alps.
The Appennines lie about 10km to the north-east of Barga. They are characterised by more rolling, gentle hills and, like the Alpe Apuane, are well served by tracks, paths and mountain huts. (See Carta dei Sentieri e Rifugi 1:25000 map sheet nos 18 & 20).
"Garfagnana Trekking" is a 110km trail which starts and finishes in
Catelnuovo di Garfagnana, around 25km from Barga. The trip takes you over the
Appennines and the Alpe Apuane and is broken down into 9 stages of about 10-15 km each.
Details of the route are marked on maps.
Further information is available from:
Ufficio Informazioni Turistiche Piazza Delle Erbe, 1 Catelnuovo Garfagnana Lucca Italy tel.0583-65169-0583-644242 fax 0583-648435
Skiing
Abetone is an excellent ski resort with 50km of piste and superb, modern lifts and snowmaking equipment. It is one and a quarter hour's drive from Barga. See:
www.abetone.com (English and Italian)
Other smaller resorts, such as Il Casone, (45 minutes away), are within easy reachSee www.appenninobianco.it (Italian only)