One of the greenest and quietest places in Garfagnana is surely the Orecchiella Park Nature Reserve. For us it is one of the lungs of Italy because on this portion of territory 60% is covered by forest against 28% of the national average.
Parting from Corfino by car where we are staying we headed towards the park. Ample parking on the left without payment just before the beginning of the park and we are ready.
What strikes us right away is the botanical garden with a wide variety of flowers to open the huge park.
The road continues on asphalt for several miles, always in the middle of the forest. Initially it is flat and then gradually descends.
Today we will not linger on the side paths, but we will go first to Vicaglia Lake and then to the nearby villages to let you admire also those little known but equally beautiful places!
Along the way you can meet some typical shepherds’ dwellings for the hay, places that struck us for their particularity.
You’ll start to see the lake after a few miles downhill.
Very peculiar is the passage under the tunnel that leads to the other valley.
One of the greenest and quietest places in Garfagnana is surely the Orecchiella Park Nature Reserve. For us it is one of the lungs of Italy because on this portion of territory 60% is covered by forest against 28% of the national average.
Parting from Corfino by car where we are staying we headed towards the park. Ample parking on the left without payment just before the beginning of the park and we are ready.
What strikes us right away is the botanical garden with a wide variety of flowers to open the huge park.
The road continues on asphalt for several miles, always in the middle of the forest. Initially it is flat and then gradually descends.
Today we will not linger on the side paths, but we will go first to Vicaglia Lake and then to the nearby villages to let you admire also those little known but equally beautiful places!
Along the way you can meet some typical shepherds’ dwellings for the hay, places that struck us for their particularity.
You’ll start to see the lake after a few miles downhill.
Very peculiar is the passage under the tunnel leading to the other valley.
Out of the tunnels we find ourselves in front of small villages immersed in the silence of the valley: Brica, Camporanda, Collecchio and Villa. The order is not random because you can visit them in a few kilometers.
Here in Brica you will find the only fountain we found along the way.
The small historic houses in these places are also amazing.
Finally descending towards Villa and continuing on the left you can close the small ring and go back towards the lake and the reserve. From here on the road will be mostly uphill and we recommend that you take it slowly because the miles behind you are not few.
When you return to the reserve you can also relax inside with a visit for children, who can see deer and bears. There are several themed trails for them to follow and enjoy.
Trail Type: asphalt
Water: Fountain in Brica
