Barga
Barga is a medieval Tuscan town, with a population of around 10,000 and is situated 35km north of the city of Lucca, the Provincial capital. It was founded by the Lombards, and evolved as a castle enclosed by walls, of which two gates (Porta Reale and Porta Macchiaia) have survived. It has been described as one of the prettiest towns in Italy.
The town was well known during the Middle Ages for the manufacture of silk threads which were exported to major centres such as Florence, its mills hydraulically powered by the nearby rivers.
Today, the old part of Barga (Barga Vecchia) hosts many cultural events and is home to various shops, restaurants and gelateria.
The Duomo (cathedral) (11th-16th centuries) is on the summit of the hill of Barga Vecchia and has panoramic views of the surrounding area.
In Barga Giardino which is outside the walls of Barga Vecchia, you find banks, shops, the supermarket, bars and the lively centre of the town.
