Where in the world is Barga? The mountains north of Lucca are known as the Garfagnana area. This area has great appeal because of it's outstanding natural beauty. The appeal of a city such as Barga lies in its isolation, lack of tourism and striking scenery. You enter Barga by way of tree lined roads which wind past Florentine Villas and rustic farmhouses. The city is a sophisticated blend of town and country. We learned about Barga from some Australian tourists who were also vacationing in Vitiana. It was a short drive and was one of their favorite places to go for dinner. A friend's son raced bicycles and would train on the surrounding mountainous hills.
The Garfagnana area is known for it's mushrooms and Barga is especially known for it's black and white truffles. Truffles are a very strong-smelling fungus that grows underground and is considered a culinary delicacy. In addition to mushrooms there is an array of chestnut products, local pecorino cheeses, and berries from the nearby mountainside. It was one of the first cities in the area to have internet cafes. Music and Theater productions are a big part of the Barga culture scene.
The area is a champion of Slow Food. It is an ironic way of saying no to fast food. It means living an unhurried life, beginning at the table. Slow Food is a non-profit association founded in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people's dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. The snail was chosen for the symbol of the Slow Food movement because it moves slowly and calmly eats its way through life.
We reached the medieval walled city of Barga late one afternoon. All the recommended restaurants were filled with reservations so we mainly walked the narrow cobblestone passageways, looking for gelato and interesting sights to photograph. The late afternoon subtle light added a very calming atmosphere to our visit within the walls of the old town. At that time of day, we saw very few tourists and even fewer residents. Rice and white tissue hearts were strewn on the cobblestones near the entrance of a doorway giving evidence of a wedding that took place earlier in the day. The combination of joy and peace was present in way that made me sorry we hadn't planned to stay at least a full day to soak up the ambiance of a city that seemed to have captured the "good life".
The Italian Touring Club has recently assigned the "orange flag" of the "migliori borghi d'Italia" (Best Villages of Italy), a distinguished sign recognizing the peculiarity of its beauty and of its quality.
