Local area
About the local area
As far as we are concerned, Garfagnana is one of Italy's best kept secrets. Wherever you go, you keep discovering new places in this authentic area. Walk through the many nature parks, visit Lucca or Florence and marvel at the beautiful caves of the area.
What to do in the area?
There are so many places to visit and things to do in the area. Below are our favourites.
Visit our favorite cities
Camporgiano
This is the village where the campsite is located. On foot you are there in 15 minutes. In Camporgiano there is a supermarket, bakery, laundry, pharmacy and a number of restaurants.
Within walking distance of the campsite you will find a winery and restaurant Bravi. You can enjoy a delicious dinner under the cozy veranda with a view of the lake. The weekly wine tasting is also well worth it. Our fave pizzerias; Davy's cafe and Mai' na Gioia. On Friday and Saturday it is very nice to walk into the wine bar on the square.
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
The main town and the heart of Garfagnana is 10 minutes by car from the campsite. It is a beautiful and lively town where all purchases are done by the population from the surrounding villages. A traditional lively market has been held every Thursday since 1430.
Barga
Located on top of the hill between Lucca and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy; the artists' village of Barga. There are several galleries and the cathedral is definitely worth a visit. You have several nice restaurants and in July the famous Barga Jazz has been held for many years. Various bands play throughout the city, very nice!
Lucca
After years we are a bit in love with this city ... There is a wonderful relaxed atmosphere and the city is largely car-free. In addition to the nice shops and restaurants, many cultural events are organized every year. Giacomo Puccini was and is Lucca's most famous resident. Festivals in honor of Puccini are still organized every year in the cathedrals of Lucca. The month of July is the month of the big summer festival. Every year, the greats of the world come to play on the central square of Lucca, certainly fun to experience!
Florence
A must. We don't need to say much more about this city. Florence can also be reached from the campsite by train, no traffic jams and parking problems.
The most beautiful caves in Europe
An absolute must that deserves a visit in the mountain area of the Garfagnana is Grotta del Vento, one of the most beautiful caves in Europe. The way here is also definitely worth it. On the way to the caves you will pass the Eremo di Calomini, a monastery that has been carved into the mountainside.
Also special places are Vagli di Sotto and Vagli di Sopra, the oldest villages in the area. The 'Paese Fantasma', also called the ghost village, is located in the reservoir near these villages. When a dike dam was built here in the 1940s and 1950s, the residents left their homes, after which the village was swallowed up by the lake.
Once every ten years, the lake is pumped out for maintenance work and you can view the drowned village. Soon it will be that time again!
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Marble quarries
Our region is known for its marble. Visit one of the marble quarries, discover how it is extracted and enjoy beautiful views. In the mountains of Minucciano you will find this impressive quarry where you can see how it is extracted during a beautiful walking tour.
Food
There are plenty of tasty restaurants in the area. Besides the fact that you can enjoy a delicious meal in our own restaurant, you will find wine restaurant Bravi and pizzeria Davy's within walking distance. Other recommendations are Il Pozzo in Pieve Fosciana and Non ti scordar di me in Piazza al Serchio.
Hiking
Choose from countless hiking trails nearby along the river or through the forest. Muscle soreness guaranteed in the mountainous environment! There are nature reserves around the campsite where you can go hiking. Choose a walk through an ancient beech forest or over a ridge with phenomenal views of the Apennines or Apuans. We have several GPX walks available in Komoot!
Kids
Adventure Park Selva del Buffardello is located on the other side of the river. The park offers a variety of nature activities. Very exciting is the course over the tops of the trees!
A visit to the old castle Fortezza delle Verrucole on the other side of the campsite is also definitely worth it. This beautifully renovated fortress is part of the Unesco heritage.
Furthermore, ziplining and supping through the azure blue canyon, rafting and canyoning are challenging activities that can be done near the campsite!
Markets
Weekly markets nearby:
Monday – Camporgiano (small)
Thursday – Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (very cozy throughout the town)
Wednesday and Saturday – Lucca
Saturday - Barga
Arts-, crafts- and rarmers Market:
First weekend of the month – Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
Antique market:
Third weekend of the month - Lucca
Biking
It is a challenge, but there is a lot of cycling in our area. Make sure you are in good shape and have the right bike. On Komoot you will find several cycling routes. Track your routes and share them with other guests by mentioning Rancone in the title! Sandra and Richard from Ridgeline are happy to show you the beautiful surroundings on one of their E-MTBs. Also fun with kids!
Beach
The road to the beach is an experience in itself. This leads you over a beautiful mountain road and through hollowed-out tunnels in the mountain range until you finally arrive at a beautiful viewpoint over the immense marble quarries and the sea. You can choose from various coastal towns to go to the beach, for example Forte dei Marmi or Marina di Pietrasanta. The beach mainly consists of a closed row of beach clubs/restaurants where you can rent beds with umbrellas and usually enjoy a delicious lunch. Four-legged friends are allowed at Beach club Flavio. There are only a few stretches of free beach, eg on the very north side or the south side of Forte dei Marmi. On the way back it is recommended to drink an aperitivo in the town of Pietrasante. This fascinating medieval town is considered the historical capital of Versilia and the capital of marble processing.
Attracting artists from all over the world, the city has turned in recent decades into a veritable open-air museum where you can admire a constant and continuously renewed exhibition of contemporary works of art and top-class sculptures among the many galleries and squares of the city.
Transport
You can fly from Schiphol, Eindhoven, Rotterdam or Maastricht to Pisa Airport in Italy in less than two hours. Our location is only 75 km from the airport. Renting a car is easy and possible at attractive prices at Pisa Airport. We always rent via Auto Europe from Maggiore, Centauro or Sicily by car. Cancellation with Auto Europe is free of charge up to 48 hours in advance.
Would you rather enjoy your first trip through the Garfagnana by train? Rancone Lodges is perfectly accessible from Pisa Airport by rail. Camporgiano train station is literally above our premises where we will pick you up and your luggage. Other major cities such as Lucca and Florence are also easily accessible by train. You walk to the Camporgiano station at the top of the campsite and get out in the center of the city. No traffic jams, no parking problems! Plan your trip easily on the Trenitalia website.
Bookings for 2025 will be open on the 1st of October at 10:00 AM.
