Saturday October 8

We took a late morning train to Castelnuovo di Garfagnana.  We were met at the station by Stefano Marchi, brought to his agriturismo La Palazzina, and were assigned to our rooms and suites.  Under threatening skies, we took a 3 ½ hr. walk into town, up to the city fort, Fortezza di Monte Alfonso, (under restoration), past chestnut forests and back to La Palazzina for dinner. And then it rained.

Cemetery of a nearby village
 

Sunday October 9

In the morning we toured the Serchio Valley by bus and foot.  We drove past Vagli Lake and dam en route to Oasi Campocatino (“nicest place in Garfagnana”) and the footpath to San Viano Hermitage.  In the afternoon we went by bus to the Grotta del Vento and a two hour visit deep inside the cave.