Orrido di Botri

One of the most charming and appreciated sights of the Media Valle of the river Serchio is the Orrido di Botri: it is a narrow and breathtaking gorge, falling sheer from the Alpe delle Tre Potenze, through which ice-cold streams run and flow into the Chiusa di Botri, coming downhill from the sources of Giovo and Campolino.

This sight draws every year hundreds of thousands tourists from all parts of the world. The Orrido begins on the spot where Rio Mariana and Rio Ribellino (two brooks) flow into each other, to form a stream flowing into the river Serchio near Ponte a Gaio, situated to the North of Borgo a Mozzano.
To reach this enchanting place, we must take the main road to Abetone as far as Chifenti and then, after about four kilometres, take the main road nr. 445 towards Garfagnana.
Not too far there is the intersection with the road signs to the Orrido. Exploring this nature resort it's easy but before coming here it's nevertheless better to ask for information about the practicability of the roads or, even better to reserve a guide. Those people wishing to spend more than one day in this resort, can overnight in summer in the hut of Fontana in Troghi.
It's one of the stops along the hill-walking route "Gea" on the Apennines, which we can easily reach on foot, walking through the village Prato Fiorito.

Bagni di Lucca, Orrido di Botri

The hut (always open in summer and on reservation only during the other months) can provide accommodation for about twelve people. To reach the Orrido di Botri, which lies at the boundary between Tuscany and Emilia, we can go also along the road, that climbs up to Montefegatesi and then slopes down to Ponte a Gaio, but even if it is more charming, it is also less practicable.