Barga 1 Sotto i cieli di Toscana

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Barga
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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.  
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.    
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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.  
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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.  
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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  
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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.
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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 LOrecchiella, Alpi Apuane
and  Appennino Toscano - and the charming villas
built just outside the old towns walls by
returning émigrés
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Barga Piazza del Fosso
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Barga Piazzale del Fosso statua Mordini.
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Barga Porta Reale, the main gate into the
historic centre
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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
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Barga Dentro la Porta Reale
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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 Porta Reale
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Barga Via di Mezzo
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Barga Chiesa SS. Annunziata
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Barga Teatro dei Differenti
Leonardo da Vinci (1502-1503) Disegno della
Città di Barga ed il territorio circostante
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Swietlan N. Kraczyna Barga
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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
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Barga Piazza Angelio
the statue of the poet Pietro Angelio aka
"Bargeo"
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Barga Palazzo Tallinucci Piazza Angelio
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Barga Piazza Garibaldi
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Barga Piazza Garibaldi is dominated by the
majestic Palazzo Balduini (15th cent.)
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Barga Stemma Medici
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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.
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Dettagli del portale di ingresso al Duomo di Barga
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Dettagli del portale di ingresso al Duomo di Barga
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Museo Civico
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Museo Civico The 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, Galileos son
Vincenzio was destined, despite his wishes, to
the Chancery of Barga.
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Museo Civico
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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.
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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.
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Giardino Palazzo Salvi
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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
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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 Bargas
political subjection to Florence.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Barga has been recently given the orange flag by
the Italian tourism including it in the best
villages of Italy.  
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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.
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Text and pictures Internet Copyright All the
images belong to their authors Presentation
Sanda Foisoreanu
2013
Sound Andrea Bocelli - Mille Lune Mille
Onde