Valley of Paths: €400,000 to the Union of Municipalities to boost

Valley of Paths: funding to revive Garfagnana's trail network

The Union of Municipalities of Garfagnana has been awarded over €400,000 for a set of projects aimed at protecting, maintaining and promoting the local trail network. Planned over the next two years, the measures seek to make historic and natural routes more accessible and sustainable for visitors.

The funding will support coordinated actions with the National Park of the Tuscan‑Emilian Apennines and local partners to safeguard environmental and cultural assets while improving facilities for hikers and tourists.

• Signage and information: installation of signs and information points at stations along the historic Lucca‑Aulla railway to ease access to trails.
• Three pilot routes: upgrades and application of park guidelines on the Via del Volto Santo, Via Vandelli and CAI paths in cooperation with the national park.
• Routine maintenance: mowing, clearing and small natural engineering works on the Garfagnana Trekking network, partly funded by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca.
• Cross‑border and cultural projects: the "Castour" initiative to promote chestnut‑related itineraries and "RomaniCap" for the conservation and enhancement of the area's Romanesque heritage.

These combined technical, promotional and preservation efforts aim to link nature, history and local identity, encouraging low‑impact tourism and creating new opportunities for the communities involved.