Barga Attractions

Barga (410m/1,345ft; population 11,000) fully deserves its reputation as the Garfagnana's most attractive town. During the Middle Ages the neighboring cities of Lucca, Pisa and Florence vied with one another for the fortress, possession of which gave control of the narrow Serchio Valley and protection against the aspirations of the house of Este, rulers of Modena, who had an outpost at Castelnuovo further up the valley. The Porta Reale beside the parking lot at the entrance to the ancient town center is a relic of the old fortifications - note the barca (ship) on the coat of arms above the portal.