|
|
HORSE BACK RIDING in NORTHERN TUSCANY (Garfagnana) - 4 DAYS  Departing from the "La Fornace" farmhouse, it is possible to take daily horseback riding trips following a semicircular path leading back to the farmhouse at night; or to take longer trips and spend the night in other surrounding farmhouses in Garfagnana.
DAY ONE: Day trip to the Matanna Mountain. The beauty of this trip rests in its variety of landscapes. The trails take you through woods, villages, brooks, streams, and grazing lands, until you reach the Matanna mountain- the last mountain before the water, facing the Versilia coast. On a clear day, it is possible to see the Island of Corsica, as well as the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. During the trip, you can visit ancient mills, still used by local artisans for the purpose of working with iron to create handmade tools. Enjoy the landscape of the Apuans Alps. Lunch, consisting of meat and cheese of local production is served in a charming mountain refuge. DAY TWO: Visit the Vagli Lake. The lake with the submerged village - more or less visible depending on the water level - is the main attraction of the trip. Sometimes the lake dries up completely, entirely exposing the village with the stone bell tower and the houses. The ancient road that connected Lucca and Modena, called Via Vandelli, runs through this area. The villages of Vagli di Sopra and Vagli di Sotto are the oldest settlements in the heart of Garfagnana. Lunch is in one of the "osterie," where you can try local and traditional dishes. DAY THREE: Visit the "Eremo dei Calomini." This trip involves a trek through the woods, the final destination being the Eremo, situated on top of the mountain. The spot where the Eremo is located has been an ancient place of prayer since the Neolithic age. Lunch is served at the restaurant on top of the mountain. DAY FOUR: Follow the road of the "Luni"......Located along this road are historic sites where the Luni population lived, during the time of the Etruscans in Tuscany. Their name is derived from their veneration of the Moon. The Luni was a population with traditions very different from the Etruscans as the population was never conquered by them. This trip travels the road that the Luni took for their shifts. Along these roads there is a cave called "Capel Venere" that has a special meaning for the locals. The legend says that in the past, women with fertility problems would go to pray in the cave, and that shortly after this prayer, they would soon become mothers. This trip is in an untouched area, perfect for outdoor lunches. Daily Prices: |
|
||
|
