In the upper Garfagnana, on the slopes of the spur connecting the Apuan Alps and the Apennines, we can find the municipality of Giuncugnano. The town is made up of seven ancient villages. Formerly it was under the rule of Lucca, then by the middle of the 15th century the Estensi family kept it under its control.

Giuncugnano lies far from the main communication lines and is surrounded by chestnut trees, beech-woods and oak-groves. North-east from the province of Lucca, near the border between the Garfagnana and Lunigiana valleys, 1034 metres above sea level, we find the Parco dell'Argegna (Argegna Park). The view there is extremely evocative: as a matter of fact the plateau dominates the expanse of the meadows and of the beech and conifer woods. Noteworthy is the Santuario della Madonna della Guardia (a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary) and the "Alpini" votive bell that lies on the highest point of Mount Argegna.

The most interesting municipalities in the park are Giuncugnano and Minucciano (the latter rising under the ridge marking the watershed between the basins of the rivers Serchio and Magra). This town is very popular among tourists, that come here to visit the artificial Lake Gramolazzo, which is not so far from Minucciano. Coming on the left road, just before the Minucciano tunnel, and following it for a few kilometres, we find a place called Orto di Donna: this is an uncommonly beautiful valley that can be reached only by small cars. Around Orto di Donna there are a steep mountain-top (on one side) and a grassland (on the other side). Here we find also the street leading to the marble quarry, to Foce del Giovo and to Pizzo d'Uccello.