Villa Collemandina: Forests, Trails and Culture

Villa Collemandina lies at the foot of the Pania di Corfino massif. At higher elevations, beech and coniferous forests give way to the mountain meadows of the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park.

Trails around Corfino and Pania di Corfino

For days spent hiking and enjoying nature, Corfino provides direct access to the Pania di Corfino state nature reserve. From Corfino, it can be reached on foot via CAI Trails No. 56 and 58. Another option is the “Airone 1” trail. It leads from Corfino to the nature reserve, follows a complete loop around the Pania massif and climbs to the main summit. Anyone choosing this trail should take the ascent to the main summit into account as part of the complete loop.

Plants and wildlife in the Apennines

The “Maria Ansaldi” Botanical Garden is located in the municipality of Villa Collemandina at an altitude of 1,370 metres, in a clearing within a beech forest in the Parco Naturale dell'Orecchiella. Numerous short paths lead through different areas featuring various aspects of the plant landscape of the Apennine Garfagnana. The short paths in the botanical garden lead successively through different areas of the plant landscape of the Apennine Garfagnana and structure the tour through the garden. The Parco dell’Orecchiella also offers beautiful walks. The forests are home to, among others, Apennine wolves, deer, mouflon and golden eagles.

Picnics by the stream and the currently empty reservoir

Downstream from the Villa Collemandina reservoir, the stream is suitable for picnics and sport fishing. The lake itself is currently empty due to extraordinary maintenance work on the dam.

Churches, discoveries and an easily accessible entrance

The Santuario della Madonna del Perpetuo Soccorso in Corfino houses a 16th-century panel depicting the Virgin Mary with the Child. In Pianacci, the Madonna di Caravaggio church dates from the 19th century. The entrance to the Tana di Magnano is beside the road and is easy to access.

Sassorosso: red marble and traces of prehistory

Sassorosso is associated with the extraction of high-quality red marble, known as saxo rubeo. This gives the landscape and the village's buildings a distinctive colour. Discoveries made near Sassorosso also indicate human presence since prehistoric times.

Traditional cuisine and festivals

In Corfino, traditional dishes from peasant cuisine are presented during the “Un passo nel passato” food tour at Ferragosto. In Villa Collemandina, the Sagra della Trota is a culinary event.

Further places to help you get your bearings

For further orientation in the surrounding area, you can also include Sassorosso, Massa and Corfino. The “Scaloni e Monte Vecchio” route also concerns the municipality of Villa Collemandina.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Capezzano, Villa Basilica, Motrone, Viareggio.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.