barga - sotto i cieli di toscana

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Barga is a medieval town ( about 6000 inhabitants) of Longobard origin but with a definite Florentine flavor. The town lies on a  hilltop  (elevation 410m, 1370 ft.) in the valley of the river Serchio, also known as Garfagnana. The region is famous for its Farro grain, the food of the ancient Roman legions. This is the only part of Tuscany featuring high mountains where eagles and other birds of prey still soar.  

Ponte della Maddalena ("Bridge of Mary Magdalene") is a bridge crossing the Serchio river near the town of Borgo a Mozzano in the province of Lucca. One of numerous medieval bridges known as Ponte del Diavolo, the "Bridge of the Devil", it was a vital river crossing on the Via Francigena, an early medieval road to Rome for those coming from France that was an important medieval pilgrimage route.

The bridge is a remarkable example of medieval engineering, probably commissioned by the Countess Matilda of Tuscany circa 1080-1100. It was renovated circa 1300 under the direction of Castruccio Castracani.

The largest span is 37.8 m. The bridge is also described in a 14th-century novella by Giovanni Sercambi of Lucca.

Circa 1500 it took on the name of Ponte della Maddalena, from an oratory dedicated to Mary Magdalene, whose statue stood at the foot of the bridge on the eastern bank.

In 1670 the General Council of the Republic of Lucca issued a decree prohibiting passage over the bridge with millstones (ceppi) and sacks of flour in order to preserve the structure

In 1836, after being badly damaged during a flood, the bridge underwent urgent repair work. In the early 1900s in order to make room for the surfaced roadway an additional arch was added to the right hand section, considerably altering the original design.

Untouched by mass tourism, Barga is a true gem and more than picturesque! It is the quintessential Tuscan hill town!  Its ancient, unspoiled and prosperous air seems attract the discerning and the artist. Barga is known for its artistic richness, historic monuments, mild climate and genuine warmth of its residents.    

From atop the hill, which is dominated by the Duomo, a church whose origins predate the Middle Ages, visitors are awed by the views of the green valley of the Serchio river, the majestic Apuan Alps, renowned for their marble quarries, and the less rugged Appenines.  

Nature lovers can walk in the nearby mountain woods in search of  berries and wild mushrooms. In winter, sky enthusiasts can take advantage of the facilities of several resorts just a short drive away.  

Barga originated before  the Middle Ages as a castle surrounded by walls and entered through one of  three gates, two of which Porta Reale and Porta Macchiaia are still standing.   During the 1300's Barga became the principal outpost of the Signoria di Firenze  in the area.  

The town was well known during the Middle Ages for the manufacture of silk garments, its mills powered by the immense hydraulic power of the nearby creeks, and remained an important commercial center until the beginning of the 20th century.  From 1341 until 1847 Barga was part of the Grand Duchy of Florence. During this period Lucca and Pisa waged frequent battles to conquer the wealthy town and the surrounding territory. From 1847 until the unification of Italy in 1861 Barga was part of the Duchy of Lucca, although it maintained a measure of autonomy.

Today, Barga is a triving commercial and tourist center. Its natural charm enhanced by its proximity to three protected conservation areas - the nature parks of L’Orecchiella, Alpi Apuane and  Appennino Toscano - and the charming villas built just outside the old towns walls by returning émigrés

Barga Piazza del

Fosso

Barga Piazzale

del Fosso statua

Mordini.

Barga Porta

Reale, the main gate

into the historic centre

The town of Barga was protected in ancient times by massive walls, parts of the wall is still intact in several places. The three gates which were the entry ways for people coming to Barga are still intact. Porta Reale, Porta Borgo and Porta Machhiaia are the three remaining ancient gates. These gates are probably the oldest remaining monuments in Barga. 

Porta Reale

Barga Dentro la

Porta Reale

Ba

rga

Po

rta

Re

ale

Barga's hilltop, near the Duomo, is known as Castello which lies within the remains of the walls and it is crisscrossed by cobblestone alleys (the most famous is Via di Mezzo), and dotted with squares such as Piazza Angelio, stairs and loggias 

Barga Via di Mezzo

Barga Chiesa SS. Annunziata

Leonardo da Vinci (1502-1503) Disegno della Città di Barga ed il

territorio circostante

Barga Teatro dei Differenti

Swietlan N. Kraczyna Barga

Barga Teatro dei Differenti

There is a beautiful baroque

theater, with a full winter season of

operas and plays and a

summer Opera

Festival, which has the

distinction of having staged an opening of

Puccini's Madame Butterfly

simultaneously with La

Scala in Milan on February

17, 1904

the statue of the poet

Pietro Angelio

aka "Bargeo"

Barga Piazza Angelio

Barga Palazzo

TallinucciPiazza Angelio

Barga Piazza

Garibaldi

Barga

Piazza Garibaldi is dominated

by the majestic Palazzo Balduini

(15th cent.)

Barga Stemma Medici

Duomo (cathedral) (11th-16th centuries), the main example of Romanesque architecture in the Serchio Valley. Of the original church, built in local limestone, parts of the façade remain. The interior has a nave and two aisles. It houses a large (3.5 m) wooden statue of St. Christopher, patron of the city.

Dettagli del portale

di ingresso al Duomo di Barga

Dettagli del portale di ingresso al Duomo di Barga

Museo Civico

Museo CivicoThe Museum opened in December 1993 in Palazzo Pretorio, the oldest, still-existent public building. The Palazzo and the old prison beneath it were built in the first half of the 14th century to house the Podestà (hence it is popularly known as the "Loggetta del Podestà"), that is to say the governor that Florence sent to Barga to administer the territory and justice. The city was indeed under Florentine protection as of 1341 or 1342 until the Unification of Italy.

A curiosity: in 1631, Galileo’s son Vincenzio was destined, despite his wishes, to the Chancery of Barga.

Museo Civico

Barga Arringo, a large lawn between the Duomo and the Palazzo

Pretorio

The name Arringo given to the large yard surrounding the

Duomo preserves the memory of the assemblies held by the

medieval community. The space is closed off to the north

by Palazzo Pretorio, which was the residence of the

Florentine administrator from 1341 to 1859, and today is the

home of the Civic Museum. From the square by the

Duomo there are broad stairs going down to the Church of the Santissimo Crocefisso,

with a late 16th-century façade and an interior decorated with

stuccoes and gold.

Historically, the area has close links with Scotland, where

many barghigiani emigrated in the early part of the century, often to work in the catering

trade.

Giardino Palazzo

Salvi

Barga

At Piazza Salvi there are two buildings in the Florentine style of the 1500s: the Loggia dei Mercanti and Palazzo Pancrazi, today the

town hall

The Loggia dei Mercanti

raised on graceful columns, was built

when Cosimo I de’

Medici instituted the Barga

market (1546), the

major commodities

of which were salt and silk.

The stone lion on the façade is

the symbol of Barga’s

political subjection to

Florence.

The ancient castle of Barga is an intimidating sight. Located at a height of 410 meters on top of a hill the castle was build mainly for defense purpose but was also used as a private residence in the past centuries.

The castle is still intact and

has been beautifully

restored. The looming

image of the castle is the

first thing that tourists notice

when they come to Barga.

The ancient historic center is the best place to visit in Barga. The ancient walled center was designed and built centuries ago and the structure has still remained the same. There are unbelievably narrow alleys that run into irregularly shaped ancient buildings, beautiful old houses, tiny shops and small houses in the historic center.

Barga has been recently given the orange flag by the Italian tourism including it in the best villages of Italy.  

Ther are seven ancient churches within or just outside the town walls including the majestic Duomo begun before the year 1000, which features art work by the incomparable medieval painter/sculpturer Andrea Della Robbia, and a splendid pulpit attributed to the sculptor Guido Bigiarelli da Como. The cobblestone paved square (Arringo) in front of the Duomo is the best vantage point for viewing breathtaking sunsets. The churchs of Barga are particularly interesting to visit during the two feast of the town's two patron Saints S. Cristoforo (July 25) and S. Rocco (August 16) when they are decked with flowers and other decorations.

Sound: Andrea Bocelli - Mille Lune Mille Onde

Text and pictures: Internet

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

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