Barga is situated on an outcrop over the Serchio valley and has retained its medieval foundations, narrow cobbled streets, tiny squares and steep stairwells which lead you to the 12^th century “Duomo” or cathedral at the pinnacle of the town. The area around the Duomo is a vantage point for the valley and the mountain ranges which surround it, namely the Apennines and the rockier Apuane chain (with its marble quarries).

The Duomo is the main example of Romanesque architecture in the Serchio Valley. Of the original church, built in local limestone, parts of the façade remain. The interior has a nave and two aisles. It houses a great (3.5 m) wooden statue of St. Christopher, patron of the city. Also noteworthy is the pulpit (12th century), designed by Guido Bigarelli da Como, with four red marble columns resting on lion sculptures. The campanile contains three bells, the oldest of which dates to the 16th century.

Historically, the area has close links with Scotland, where many barghigiani emigrated in the early part of the century, often to work in the catering trade. Barga is the home town of the family of Paolo Nutini (born 9 January 1987) the Scottish singer/songwriter. On 24 July 2007, Paolo was awarded The Golden St. Christopher medal, the highest honour the city can give, to celebrate his extraordinary contributions to Barga and its people.

For lover of the outdoors, the area offers the lure of several trekking excursions surrounded by natural beauty.

In the Apuan Alps, famed for their marble quarries, trekkers can visit Monte Forato noted for a natural stone arch spanning 30 m (100ft), and the Pania. The cave Grotta del Vento
The close Lake of Vagli where at the bottom is visible through the water the old ghost village of Fabbriche di Careggine.

In this area you can also find the canyon of the "Orrido di Botri" , "Lago Santo" and "Lago Baccio", "San Pellegrino in Alpe" with a museum devoted to the artifacts of daily life. Facilities for horseback riding, mountain biking and canoeing abound.

You can ski at Le Radici and Abetone the home of Zeno Colo` the world's first skiing champion. During the winter you can enjoy cross-country skiing, and trekking in the summer.

The Natural Regional Park of The Apuane Alps

The Apuane Alps have a typical alpine profile due to geological events millions of years ago. They are found a strep from the sea and run parallel to the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apennines. Their particular geology (metamorphosed rocks, containing almost pure calcification, used in marble statuary), their singular geographic position and the presence of a man's face at the end of the highest part have resulted in a whole landscape of biodiversity. It is a paradise of for botanists, for cavers, mountaineers and walkers. For twenty years it has been protected by a regional park.

Orecchiella and the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines

The Orecchiella area summarises all the characteristics of the Apennine mountains: pastures on ridges, forests of beech, chestnut and oak, manmade traces such as mountain pastures, the old mule tracks, and the many votive shrines. More than the breathtaking landscape, what distinguishes Orecchiella is its very nature, seen by all, but never quantified, almost as if your existence became an act of respect when confronted by nature. The three state nature reserves of the Orecchiella, the Lamarossa and the Pania of Corfino today comprise the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

The lakes

The remarkable abundance of water in the entire valley has always been exploited to produce energy. At one time the water fed mills and factories. In the first half of the nineteenth century a series of dams were constructed which created many lakes. The landscape was enriched with new sheets of water, which created new ecosystems and new opportunities for water sports. In some cases like in Vagli, the periodic emptying of the hydroelectric basin reveals ancient settlements hidden under the water. The artificially made lakes are flanked by two of natural origin which are of particular scientific interest.

The Devil's Bridge

The Serchio Valley can be said to start at Borgo a Mozzano’s Ponte della Maddalena, a superb 14th century construction: because of the boldness of its central arch, legend has it that it is the work of the Devil. The bridge is also referred to locally as “The Devil’s Bridge” for this very reason.

The Ponte della Maddalena is situated just 10km from La Fucina.

Orrido di Botri (The Botri Ravine) and minor canyons

The numerous watercourses which descend from the Apennines of Tuscany- Emilia and from the Apuane Alps have occasionally produced remarkable incisions which find their major expression in the Botri ravine, one of the principal Italian canyons. It is made of a sharp and imposing limestone throat with steep sides which nearly touch at the peak. The ravine is located in an Apennine landscape which is craggy, filled with beech trees, and dominated by the summit of mount Rondinaio and of the Tre Potenze which are nearly 2000 metres.