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 Bagni di Lucca is in the Val di Lima, a beautiful green valley in the Garfagnana National Park in northern Tuscany, 12 miles north of Lucca. The region is characterised by fast flowing rivers surging through breathtaking steep-sided valleys, covered in dense forests and inhabited by many kinds of wildlife. The Lima joins the river Serchio and becomes a wider and less turbulent as it journeys towards the historic walled city of Lucca and on to the sea, passing through the famous Devil's Bridge on the way.
 We overlook the historic old spa town of Bagni di Lucca, situated along the river in the valley and with a selection of shops, bars and restaurants. There have been thermal baths here since Roman times and the very first Casino in Europe was built here. Many famous English poets such as Shelley, Keats and Byron had connections with Bagni di Lucca and the region. Art in Bagni di Lucca is very popular as artists have always valued the special light conditions in the Tuscan hills. There is also much to paint at all times of the year, from sunny summer views through autumn golds to winter snows.
The pretty hill-town of Barga, long associated with Scotland, is only 30 minutes away along the Garfagnana valley, as are the fantastic caverns of the Grotto del Vento, with various English speaking tours available.
If you like a more active type of holiday, this whole area is a paradise for walkers and cyclists, with established routes and points of interest in both Lima and Garfagnana valleys. In Bagni di Lucca there are tennis courts offering coaching, public swimming baths and a thermal spa, horse-riding nearby and even canoeing in the fast flowing rivers.
The road from Bagni di Lucca to Brandeglio is a scenic drive in itself. After following the river along the dramatic valley, the road climbs up a steep hill, weaving its way through dark, mysterious pine forests, then through romantic sweet chestnut groves, all the time giving tantalising glimpses of the valleys, hills and villages through the trees, until the village of Brandeglio appears at the top of the hill, with spectacular panoramic views of the many surrounding valleys.
The village is just what people think of as a typical Italian hilltop village, with its church, piazza, narrow cobbled streets, fountains and ancient shuttered houses. Castagni d'Oro is situated in the village, just 50 metres from the piazza.
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