Vagli Sotto: Lake Vagli, Nature and History

Vagli Sotto combines water, nature, culture and regional cuisine. Lake Vagli shapes the range of experiences, while historic places and landscapes in the wider surrounding region offer different highlights. A holiday apartment in Vagli Sotto can therefore suit travel plans that combine the lake, activities, history and culinary discoveries.

Lake, bridge and flight over Lake Vagli

Lake Vagli is an artificial lake created in 1947 by raising the dam on the Edron River. Along its shores, the Bioparco del Lago di Vagli includes a long lakeside promenade. The Ponte Sospeso connects the two shores of Lake Vagli. The 132-metre-long suspension bridge is designed for bicycle and pedestrian traffic and is one of the largest in Europe; in its central section, a glass floor extends over the lake.

The Volo dell’Angelo adds another focus to Lake Vagli. The meeting point is at the VagliPark ticket office in Vagli Sotto, at the intersection of Strada Provinciale 50 and Via Europa. Guests who have booked the Volo dell’Angelo are taken by bus from VagliPark to the starting area. The zipline runs 1,500 metres over the lake, at a height of about 350 metres and at speeds of up to 150 km/h.

Cultural history by the water and in the town

On the shores of Lake Vagli, the Parco dell’Onore e del Disonore houses more than twenty monumental marble statues dedicated to figures from contemporary history. The history of the flooded settlements is also part of the landscape: Fabbriche di Careggine was flooded by Lake Vagli in 1953; Pantane and Piari were also flooded during the same event.

In Vagli Sotto, the Church of Sant’Agostino dates back to the 11th century and has remained practically unchanged to this day. The Casa Abrami Museum is located on the approach road to Vagli Sotto. In Arnetola, the Museo della tecnica estrattiva delle cave di marmo documents the social and technological development of marble quarrying.

Nature and paths in the wider surrounding region

Campocatino is a basin of glacial origin located at an altitude of about 1,000 metres, with a large meadow at the foot of Monte Roccandagia. Due to its numerous bird species, Campocatino has been a LIPU nature oasis since 1991. In the wider region around Vagli Sotto, the Via Vandelli leads from Vagli di Sopra to the Passo della Tambura and then descends to Resceto.

The Garfagnana on the plate

The cuisine of the Garfagnana is part of the regional side of the journey. IGP spelt is an important ingredient in spelt soup, which is prepared with potatoes, beans and occasionally a few Swiss chard leaves. Biroldo is a traditional sausage specialty of the Garfagnana, made mainly from pig’s head and spices.

Holiday apartment in Vagli Sotto and your travel planning

When you choose a holiday apartment or holiday home in Vagli Sotto, you can tailor the focus of your trip to the specific themes of the town and its surroundings: the lake and bridge, the flight experience, local history, nature or the cuisine of the Garfagnana. For trips involving different interests, this combination offers several starting points without requiring every day to follow the same pattern.

More places for your planning

In addition to Vagli Sotto, discover Motrone, Marlia, Segromigno, Cardoso, Villa Collemandina, Vallico di Sotto, Campolemisi and Massarosa.

For the overarching travel overview: Lucca.