Surrounding Area
Even if you do not leave home, you are surrounded by beautiful views, nature, wildlife, birdsong, fresh air and forest. The local forest is famous for mushroom picking and chestnut collecting. There are also some lovely, caring, international neighbors (Dutch, Danish & Spanish). The Agriturismo took its name (Podere San Biagio) from the small 10th century church right down the road. Musical events, poetry readings and very intimate small wedding celebrations take place here during the Summer months. There are so many beautiful nature walks starting right from your doorstep. You can walk to the river, you can take the scenic loop walk called the Capriola walk, you can venture across the Villetta Bridge (the tallest in Garfagnana) to enjoy lovely brick oven pizza and gelato or a refreshing swim in the river. There are many cycling routes, nature parks, lakes (Gramolazzo, Vagli & Pontecosi) and hiking trails (Campocatino, San Pellegrino & Orichiela), horseback riding as well as a tremendous amount of local attractions. If you like skiing there is a small ski area ten kilometers up the the road from Poggio as well as Abteone a very extensive and famous ski area about and hour and a half away.
The seaside is one hour and thirty minutes away, a very scenic drive through the mountains. The hilltop town of Barga is very nice to have nearby (about 40 minutes) for its annual Jazz festival during the month of August as well as its many restaurants, art galleries and a truly outstanding cathedral.
The closest town is Camporgiano about three kilometers away where you can find food shops, bakeries, restaurants, a bank, a gas station, a mechanic, an extensive hardware store as well as nursery, elementary and middle schools. The largest town in the Garfagnana is Castelnuovo where you can find a large selection of food stores, restaurants, banks a movie theatre and most everything you may need. The Poggio/Carregine/Vagli Train Station just a short walk (20 minutes) from the agriturismo. From here you can travel to most anyplace you would like to go in Italy. Lucca is one hour away, Pisa an hour and twenty minutes and destinations such as Cinque Terre, Siena, Florence and Rome are all reachable within a few hours. The closest airport is Galileo Galilei in Pisa about an hour and fifteen minute drive.
