Barga, Tuscany

File:Barga.gif

Barga's coat-of-arms

Barga is a medieval Tuscan town in the north of Italy, with a total of around 10,000 inhabitants. It lies on a hilltop just outside the Garfagnana - the portion of the Serchio Valley located within the Province of Lucca. Barga is north of the town of Lucca, a medieval city noted for its amphitheatre, ancient towers and medieval churches. Lucca is about 60 minutes north of Pisa, known worldwide for its leaning tower, as well as many other ancient churches and monuments.

Barga, itself, is known for its artistic richness, historic monuments, and mild climate in comparison with much of the country. There is a Cathedral overlooking the whole town, which is surrounded by old city walls.

There is an annual international opera festival; operabarga and a long running and very successful jazz festival; bargajazz.

Recently it has become the home of many painters who exhibit their work in some of the small galleries within the castle walls

The town has an area of about 66 km² and a total population of 10,018.

External links

• barganews.com - Main site for Barga . (English + Italian)
• bargajazz - bargajazz . (English + Italian)
• operabarga - operabarga .
• 3D tour of the barga churches - moving images of all the churches in Barga .
• Council site (Italian)
• Independent editorial article - Barga's fish & chip festival