GARFAGNANA: ALPI APUANE, PARCO DELL'ORECCHIELLA, GROTTA DEL VENTO

The Natural Park of Orecchiella lies in the municipal territories of San Romano in Garfagnana, Sillano and Villa Collemandina in the province of Lucca (65 km), Tuscany. The park comprise an area of more than 50 sq. Km. and its highest point is Monte Prado (2054 mt). Several beautiful itineraries started from Orecchiella, we did the circular track that is marked as Airone1 to the Pania del Corfino (Orecchiella-Sella di Campaiana-Campaiana-Pania di Corfino-Orecchiella). There are also other two itineraries: Airone2 (Orecchiella-Sorgente Fiume Rimonio-La Ripa-Seminabbia-Piaggie di Parecchiola-Orecchiella) and Airone3 (Orecchiella-Riserva Naturale Statale Lama Rossa-Monte Bocca di Scala-Montevecchio-Monte Prado-Rifugio La Foce-Vetricie-Vitecchie-Casini di Corte-Orecchiella).

Hotels in Garfagnana area

The Apuane are famous for the beauty of their marbles, their deep abysses, and the great cavities of the subsoil characterized by karst phenomena. Alpi Apuane are one of the most original mountain areas in Italy, for the variety of their landscape and environments. The Apuane are an orographic complex of great charm thanks to their massive mountains, the harsh morphology, the deep valleys, and the very steep slopes. Within a few kilometers from the small coastal plain in Versilia, the Apuane rise to reach almost the 2.000 m of altitude with Mt. Pisanino (m 1947). The area presents remarkable geomorphological features: well-preserved moraines, erratic boulders, valleys and cirques dating back to the last würmian glaciation. On the surface, there are karst phenomena like carted fields, dolines (Carcaraia, Mt. Altissimo, Mt. Sagro, etc.) and other epigeal dissolution phenomena (Vetricia plateau, Mt. Forato arch, "Marmitte dei Giganti", etc.). In the underground there are some of the main expressions of the karst phenomena: deep abysses and the great cavities of the Apuane, resulting from an incredible labyrinth of tunnels and wells: the Antro del Corchia - for instance - has a total length of over 70 km of subterranean channels and 1210 meters of difference in height, and it is the main karst system in Italy and one of the biggest in the world.

The traditional mining activity has given the environment particular features, originating cuts and fractures in the relief at the highest altitudes, covering several slopes with detritus (the so-called "ravaneti"), and opening new trails which have nowadays been abandoned and brought back to their original state. The mining landscape which formed is therefore unique and very interesting. The greater concentration of marble quarries is situated near the town of Carrara. There are other sites in Massa, Seravezza, Stazzema, Vagli Sotto, Minucciano, Casola in Lunigiana, Fivizzano. The geomineralogical richness of the Apuane Alps also includes metalliferous veins rich in iron, silver-bearing lead, copper and other metals (whose presence has led to the creation of quarries which are no longer working), and locations interesting from a mineralogical point of view, mineral and thermomineral springs.

Situated in the centre of the Apuan Alps' Natural Park. From Lucca take the S.S.N.12 Abetone/Brennero as far as Ponte a Moriano (8,5 kms.). From here cross the Serchio River and proceed along the main road, through the valley, as far as Gallicano (36 kms.). After passing the rocky gorge of Lake Trombacco, take the road for Fornovolasco (44 kms.). Continuing uphill, cross three valleys, thus shortly arriving at the "Cave".

There are three itineraries: the "first" (one hour) proceeds horizontally and is characterized throughout by splendid calcareous formations; the "second" (two hours), which also includes the first, visits a small underground river and its charmingly vast environment; the "third" (three hours) consents a complete visit of the cave and easily follows several perfectly vertical tracts.

The "Grotta del Vento" is open to the public every day of the year (excluding Christmas).
From April 1st to November 1st and on Sundays and public holidays of the remaining period, the times are as follows:

1st itinerary (one hour): starting at: 10h., 11h., 12h., 14h., 15h., 16h., 17h., 18h.
2nd itinerary (two hours): starting at: 11h., 15h., 16h., 17h.
3rd itinerary (three hours, complete tour): starting at: 10h., 14h.

On weekdays between November 2nd and March 31st only the 1st itinerary can be visited at the following times: 10h., 11h., 12h., 14h., 15h., 16h., 17h., 18h..

Internal cave temperature is of +10.7°C. (53°F.)

Bar facilities can be found next to the ticket office, as well as a large selection of minerals, fossils etc.

We did the first and the second itineraries, in the two different times we were there. The itineraries are with a guide and there is to pay a ticket (1° itinerary: 7,5€; 2° itinerary: 12€; 3° itinerary: 17€).