The best road cycling routes around Careggine

The Rocca Ariostesca is a medieval fortified military structure located in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. The rocca is the symbol of the city and overlooks the central Piazza Umberto I. It owes its name to having been the seat of the Este government and to having hosted, from 1522 to 1525, as governor of the Garfagnana of the Este, the poet Ludovico Ariosto, who was succeeded in the following century by Fulvio Testi. A small outpost already existed on the site in the 10th century, but it can be said that the original structure of the Rocca as we know it today dates back to the 12th century; modified throughout the 13th century, it was significantly enlarged in the early 14th century by Castruccio Castracani, who determined an enlargement of the entire village walls. It was then Paolo Guinigi who ordered the construction of the imposing tower located in the center of the Rocca, adorned with the civic clock, which over time was also used as a prison. The terrace overlooking the square was erected in 1675, coinciding with the opening of the monumental arch of access to the city center. The internal furnishings have been lost, among which the tapestries that adorned the "Sala dei Principi" (Hall of the Princes) are known. The Rocca was damaged during the Second World War and subsequently restored. As a venue for exhibitions and cultural events, it houses the Archaeological Museum in its halls, which preserves numerous artifacts and testimonies from the prehistoric, Ligurian-Apuan, and Etruscan periods in Garfagnana.

The lake of Gramolazzo is a lake in the Apuan Alps located near the homonymous village in the municipality of Minucciano. Of artificial origin, it was created in the second half of the 1900s, together with the lake of Vagli by SELT Valdarno for the hydroelectric use of the Serchio river and its tributaries. The lake, which has a surface area of one square kilometer and a volume of 3.8 million cubic meters, has both the Serchio di Gramolazzo as its inflow and outflow, one of the two branches that, joining near Piazza al Serchio, form the Tuscan river. Another important stream that flows into the lake is the Acqua Bianca stream, which coming from Mount Pisanino crosses the village of Gorfigliano. A large part of the water, however, is fed through a channel on the left bank, near the dam, which with a maximum flow rate of 20 cubic meters per second discharges the waters captured from the Serchio into the Sillano valley. The waters of the lake of Gramolazzo feed the Fabbriche power plant which in turn discharges them into the lake of Vagli.

A fantastic parish church that's worth a visit. The interior, especially, is truly beautiful.

A must-see with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, all immersed in lush greenery.

The place is cool and quiet during the week. Canoe rentals are available for lake excursions.

The parish church of Codiponte of Saints Cornelio and Cipriano is among the most fascinating and artistically rich in the territory of the ancient Diocese of Luni. With its figurative capitals and its artistic masterpieces, it is a true paradigm of the Lunigiana Romanesque. The parish church stands on the right bank of the Aulella, near a bridge beyond which, in the distance, you can see the ruins of the 11th-century Bianchi d'Erberia castle. The church has a basilica plan with three naves with columns and round arches and perfectly preserved notched cubic capitals, which bear figures typical of the medieval image system: the tree of life, lily, six-petalled daisy, serpent with feet, two-tailed mermaid and many others. The late medieval triptych with the Virgin on the throne, the SS. Cornelius and Cyprian, the church's patron saints, and the image of the Holy Face, a famous and venerated Lucchese relic, which recalls the passage of the Via del Volto Santo in these very places.

Characteristic village of the upper Aulella valley, nestled along the crest of a rocky spur, the town still today winds along an axis that has at its center the baroque church (17th century), dedicated to San Martino, with a singular façade. On the sides of the monument, two pedestrian streets with a slight difference in level run between tightly packed stone houses, softened by arches and portals. Farmyards, terraces and open spaces open the view onto a lush nature.

Ponte della Maddalena, or Ponte del Diavolo, is one of those places that will leave you speechless. It is located in Borgo a Mozzano and is truly unique with its very high arch and slightly crooked shape that makes it different from any other medieval bridge. It is absolutely worth stopping: the atmosphere is special. Crossing it on foot is an experience, and if you are on a bike, be careful of the stone section that can be slippery. There is also a bar nearby with a beautiful view of the bridge, perfect for a break before getting back on the road.