Barga

Barga is a small medieval town in Tuscany, in the province of Lucca, perched on a hill in the Garfagnana area at the foot of the Apuan Alps. Its historic centre, with cobbled lanes and stone houses, is dominated by the Duomo, the Cathedral of San Cristoforo, whose terrace offers wide views over the Serchio valley and the surrounding peaks. The town has strong historical ties with Scotland due to significant emigration during the 19th and 20th centuries, which has earned it the nickname of the most Scottish town in Italy. Barga hosts a well-regarded jazz festival each summer, drawing music lovers to its squares and theatres. The surrounding countryside is well suited to walking, with direct access to trails through the Garfagnana and the Apuan Alps, as well as nearby villages such as Castelvecchio Pascoli, associated with the poet Giovanni Pascoli. Local cuisine highlights mountain produce, including mushrooms, chestnuts and sheep's milk cheeses. The climate is broadly continental, tempered by the nearby mountains, with mild summers and cooler winters than on the Tuscan coast.