Guidebook for il Vecchio Mulino
Neighborhoods
This is the nearest market town only 25 mins from the Mill at Valbona and with a direct rail line to the beautiful city of Lucca and Pisa. Castelnuovo has numerous restaurants all offering menus made from local produce most operating a zero KM policy.
There is a weekly market every Thursday morning and various sagra and festa throughout the year which are advertised throughout the local area.
97 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
This is the nearest market town only 25 mins from the Mill at Valbona and with a direct rail line to the beautiful city of Lucca and Pisa. Castelnuovo has numerous restaurants all offering menus made from local produce most operating a zero KM policy.
There is a weekly market every Thursday morning and various sagra and festa throughout the year which are advertised throughout the local area.
Castiglione is only a 15 minute drive from il Vecchio Mulino. The hub of Castiglione is definitely Bar Marcalli, known by all the locals as Silvano's, named after the owner. In addition to being a bar, they also sell a good variety of essential items and you can buy fresh bread and pastries there each morning. They are open every day except Fridays.
Next door to Silvano's is Bar Leone and right across the street is Bar Alessia with a large upstairs terrace - great for sundowners with panoramic views of the valley.
Marco's fruit and veg shop is open every day in Castiglione, even on Sunday mornings.
Do take time to have a stroll around the village and walk up to the Medieval fortezza.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Castiglione di Garfagnana
Castiglione is only a 15 minute drive from il Vecchio Mulino. The hub of Castiglione is definitely Bar Marcalli, known by all the locals as Silvano's, named after the owner. In addition to being a bar, they also sell a good variety of essential items and you can buy fresh bread and pastries there each morning. They are open every day except Fridays.
Next door to Silvano's is Bar Leone and right across the street is Bar Alessia with a large upstairs terrace - great for sundowners with panoramic views of the valley.
Marco's fruit and veg shop is open every day in Castiglione, even on Sunday mornings.
Do take time to have a stroll around the village and walk up to the Medieval fortezza.
Pieve Fosciana is the next small town nestling in between Castiglione and Castelnuovo.
It boasts 2 great bakeries, 3 bars with outside seating areas, a great gelateria and is also home to il Pozzo restaurant.
Every Saturday morning, there is a small market in Pieve.
Useful tip - they have a rotisserie van at the market. Head down just before 12 noon to pick up a roast chicken with potatoes and salad for a delicious lunch!
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pieve Fosciana
Pieve Fosciana is the next small town nestling in between Castiglione and Castelnuovo.
It boasts 2 great bakeries, 3 bars with outside seating areas, a great gelateria and is also home to il Pozzo restaurant.
Every Saturday morning, there is a small market in Pieve.
Useful tip - they have a rotisserie van at the market. Head down just before 12 noon to pick up a roast chicken with potatoes and salad for a delicious lunch!
Food scene
Suggestions for local restaurants
Lovely spot for lunch and dinner in the middle of Pieve Fosciana. The restaurant has a large, covered outdoor terrace, perfect for al fresco lunches and dinners. Large car parking area behind the restaurant
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Il Pozzo
2/A Via EuropaLovely spot for lunch and dinner in the middle of Pieve Fosciana. The restaurant has a large, covered outdoor terrace, perfect for al fresco lunches and dinners. Large car parking area behind the restaurant
Local bottega serving great wines and prosecco. Also open for lunch and dinner. You can take your empty wine bottles along to the Bottega to be refilled with good local wine.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Bottega Del Fattore
1 Via Francesco AzziLocal bottega serving great wines and prosecco. Also open for lunch and dinner. You can take your empty wine bottles along to the Bottega to be refilled with good local wine.
Great spot for Sunday lunch. Large outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the whole valley. They offer a set lunch, with wine included.
Hotel Panoramic Restaurant
9 Via Fondo la TerraGreat spot for Sunday lunch. Large outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the whole valley. They offer a set lunch, with wine included.
Just off the main square in Castelnuovo, great spot for a reasonably priced mid-week lunch. Outdoor and indoor seating
Locanda Aquila d'Oro
6 Vicolo al SerchioJust off the main square in Castelnuovo, great spot for a reasonably priced mid-week lunch. Outdoor and indoor seating
Great spot for a pranzo di lavoro (worker’s lunch) under the arches in the centre of Castelnuovo. Really good food and friendly service
Trattoria Marchetti
10 Via Fulvio TestiGreat spot for a pranzo di lavoro (worker’s lunch) under the arches in the centre of Castelnuovo. Really good food and friendly service
Things to Do
Expertly run by husband and wife team Nicola and Athanae, offering multilevel day hikes and mountain biking.
Yoga and pilates sessions also available
Explore Tuscany
1 Piazza San Bernardino da SienaExpertly run by husband and wife team Nicola and Athanae, offering multilevel day hikes and mountain biking.
Yoga and pilates sessions also available
Just past the town of Gallicano, head towards Fornovolasco, where the spectacular Grotta del Vento (cave of wind) is located. As you can easily imagine, the name of the cave is linked to the strong air currents that are generated due to the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the cave. Guided tours of the cave run throughout the day. A perfect way to cool down when the weather gets really hot.
158 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Grotta del Vento
Just past the town of Gallicano, head towards Fornovolasco, where the spectacular Grotta del Vento (cave of wind) is located. As you can easily imagine, the name of the cave is linked to the strong air currents that are generated due to the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the cave. Guided tours of the cave run throughout the day. A perfect way to cool down when the weather gets really hot.
Lago di Vagli is a large artificial lake which was formed in 1947, with the construction of the hydroelectric dam. With the completion of the dam, the waters have risen by over 90 meters submerging some villages including the Medieval village of Fabbriche di Careggine, which is only visible when the lake is emptied.
Lago di Vagli has also recently become famous with the opening of Vagli Park in 2017 which has made it one of the main tourist destinations in the area. Among the main attractions are the suspension bridge that offers an extraordinary viewpoint over the lake and the exciting zipline "The Angel's Flight", a must for all adrenaline junkies!
38 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lago Di Vagli
Lago di Vagli is a large artificial lake which was formed in 1947, with the construction of the hydroelectric dam. With the completion of the dam, the waters have risen by over 90 meters submerging some villages including the Medieval village of Fabbriche di Careggine, which is only visible when the lake is emptied.
Lago di Vagli has also recently become famous with the opening of Vagli Park in 2017 which has made it one of the main tourist destinations in the area. Among the main attractions are the suspension bridge that offers an extraordinary viewpoint over the lake and the exciting zipline "The Angel's Flight", a must for all adrenaline junkies!
Looking for a beach day? This is a fun, wide, sandy beach that goes on for miles, perfect for families and is just over an hour's drive away. You pay for a day ticket, but along with an umbrella and beach chairs, you have access to sand toys, balls and inflatable floats for the kids, and facilities such as swings, bathrooms and dressing rooms.
47 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Marina di Pietrasanta
Looking for a beach day? This is a fun, wide, sandy beach that goes on for miles, perfect for families and is just over an hour's drive away. You pay for a day ticket, but along with an umbrella and beach chairs, you have access to sand toys, balls and inflatable floats for the kids, and facilities such as swings, bathrooms and dressing rooms.
Sambuca
A great spot for wild swimming, just below the cute little hamlet of Sambuca.
Beautiful outdoor swimming pool in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. Open daily to the public, with large sunbathing terraces and snack bar.
Piscina Comunale
17 Via G. PucciniBeautiful outdoor swimming pool in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. Open daily to the public, with large sunbathing terraces and snack bar.
City/town information
With trains running frequently between Castelnuovo and Lucca, this makes for a perfect day out, exploring this wonderful city. Leave the car at the station in Castelnuovo and let the train take the strain! The journey takes just under an hour.
Lucca is one of the most-loved cities in Tuscany.
Broad, tree-lined pathways along the tops of the massive 16th- and 17th-century ramparts surrounding the old city are popular for strolling and cycling.
1278 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lucca
With trains running frequently between Castelnuovo and Lucca, this makes for a perfect day out, exploring this wonderful city. Leave the car at the station in Castelnuovo and let the train take the strain! The journey takes just under an hour.
Lucca is one of the most-loved cities in Tuscany.
Broad, tree-lined pathways along the tops of the massive 16th- and 17th-century ramparts surrounding the old city are popular for strolling and cycling.
Barga is an enchanting town to discover: it’s an ancient hilltop city completely surrounded by a lush green landscape, with valleys and mountains in the background. That’s why we strongly suggest you stroll along its lanes and tiny streets to explore its hidden corners.
95 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Barga
Barga is an enchanting town to discover: it’s an ancient hilltop city completely surrounded by a lush green landscape, with valleys and mountains in the background. That’s why we strongly suggest you stroll along its lanes and tiny streets to explore its hidden corners.
Consejos para la ciudad
Qué debes empacar
Pack comfortable walking shoes
There are lots of great walking and hiking trails in the area