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Barga
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Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" (mid valley) of the Serchio.
a lies north of the provincial capital, Lucca. It is overlooked by the village of Albiano, a località of Barga, which in the 10th century was the site of a castle protecting the town.
Pania della Croce, a mountain of the Apuan Alps, dominates the surrounding chestnut trees, grape vines and olive groves.
ded by the Lombards, the city grew as a castle surrounded by a line of walls, of which two gates (Porta Reale and Porta Macchiaia) have survived.
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Encyclopedia
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" (mid valley) of the Serchio.
Geography
Barga lies north of the provincial capital, Lucca. It is overlooked by the village of Albiano, a località of Barga, which in the 10th century was the site of a castle protecting the town.
Pania della Croce, a mountain of the Apuan Alps, dominates the surrounding chestnut trees, grape vines and olive groves.
History
Founded by the Lombards, the city grew as a castle surrounded by a line of walls, of which two gates (Porta Reale and Porta Macchiaia) have survived. The town was well known during the Middle Ages for the manufacture of silk threads which were exported to major centres such as Florence, its mills powered by the hydraulic power of the nearby creeks. In the Middle Ages, Lucca and Pisa battled frequently to conquer the wealthy town and the surrounding territory, and for a time Barga was part of the Florentine dominion, later Duchy and Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In 1847 it became part of the Duchy of Lucca, maintaining a certain degree of autonomy, until it became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Between 1331 and 1859 Albiano owed its allegiance to the Florentine State. The region was part of the Gothic Line in World War II, and was the scene of fierce fighting between the Allies and Germans from October 1944 until April 1945.
Culture
The main sights include :
- The Duomo (cathedral) (11th-16th centuries), the main example of Romanesque architecture in the Serchio Valley. Of the original church, built in local limestone, parts of the façade remain. The interior has a nave and two aisles. It houses a great (3.5 m) wooden statue of St. Christopher, patron of the city. Also noteworthy is the pulpit (12th century), designed by Guido Bigarelli da Como, with four red marble columns resting on lion sculptures. The campanile contains three bells, the oldest of which dates to the 16th century.
There is an annual international opera festival, called "Opera Barga Festival", and a long running and very successful jazz festival, "Bargajazz". Recently, Barga has become the home of many painters, including John Bellany who exhibit their work in some of the small galleries within the castle walls.
The "Sagra" is a feature of Tuscan rural culture; communal meals for several hundred people, eaten in the open air, often in orchards, vineyards or sports grounds. Originally religious celebrations, they are now often used to raise funds for local causes. Each town and village will have its own peculiar sagra: Around Barga from July to September it is possible to participate in a Sagra every night. In Barga itself there is the "Cena in Vignola" in the vineyard below the Duomo, and in August the "Sagra delle pesce e Patate" (Fish and Chips) in celebration of the Barga/Scottish connection. At nearby San Pietro in Campo, there is the "Sagra del Maiale" (Pork) and at Filecchio the "Sagra della Polenta e Ucelli" (originally small wild birds, now pheasant)
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. There is limited hotel accommodation in Barga: See "Barga Hotels" (http://www.casa-fontana.com/Barga_Hotels.htm); At present there are no hotels within the walled historic centre, although there is one Bed and Breakfast, Casa Fontana. However, just outside the City Wall, a minute walk away, self-catering guests can enjoy Casa Bellavista (http://www.bargabellavista.com/), a beautiful apartment with a breathtaking view. Barga has also been, since 1999, the home of the "European Gnome Sanctuary" run by the Garden Gnome Liberation Front.
Barga is the home town of the family of Paolo Nutini (born 9 January 1987) the Scottish singer/songwriter. On 24 July, 2007, Paolo was awarded The Golden St. Christopher medal, the highest honour the city can give, to celebrate his extraordinary contributions to Barga and its people.
The frazione of Castelvecchio Pascoli was home to one of Italy's most inspirational 19th Century poets, Giovanni Pascoli.
At the other end of the scale, Barga is also the birthplace of Silvano Togneri, died in August, 2006, longtime practitioner of outsider music.
The area is a champion of Slow Food. The area has many hillwalkers, hunters and mushroom pickers and walking holidays (http://www.tuscanywalking.com , and Artemisia holidays) are very popular due the the spectacular scenery around the area.
Many of the residents of the area can trace their relatives to those that emigrated, especially to the Americas, Scotland and Australia. For some, they have come full circle as they have returned to retire here. In particular, a significant proportion of the Scots-Italian population of Glasgow and other cities can trace roots back to Barga and the surrounding region, as outlined by Glasgow restaurateur and one-time Barga resident Joe Pieri in his books The Scots-Italians and River of Memory.
Twinning cities
Sport
It was playing for Barga's football team, that the only Scottish-born player ever to play for Italy was scouted by a Serie A club. Giovanni "Johnny" Moscardini was born in Falkirk to Italian parents in 1897, and fought for Italy in World War I. After the war, Lucchese signed him from Barga, and he went on to play for Pisa, and Genoa, as well as the Italian national team.
In 1991, the local sport center named "Il Ciocco" hosted the second edition of UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships.
External links
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- - Barga's fish & chip festival
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- (weather station based in Barga Vecchia)
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