Minucciano
The Province of Lucca: A Brief Geographical Overview
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about the province of Lucca, a beautiful area in my beloved Tuscany. With its 381,235 inhabitants, it is the third most populous province in Tuscany and is located on the western coast of the region. It borders the Ligurian Sea to the west, the province of Massa and Carrara to the northwest, Emilia-Romagna (provinces of Reggio Emilia and Modena) to the north, the provinces of Pistoia and Metropolitan City of Florence to the east, and the province of Pisa to the south. The province of Lucca is divided into four zones: Piana di Lucca, Versilia, Media Valle del Serchio, and Garfagnana.
The History of the Province of Lucca
The province of Lucca has a very ancient history, dating back to its foundation in 1849. Originally part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, at the time of its foundation it already had a different structure from today. In 1923, the province of Lucca incorporated the district of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, which had previously belonged to the province of Massa and Carrara, and many of its municipalities were ceded to the province of Pistoia in 1928. Only six municipalities of the province were part of the pre-unitary Tuscan state for a certain period, while the other municipalities never belonged to the Tuscan state.
The Four Zones of the Province of Lucca
As I said before, the province of Lucca is divided into four different zones. Piana di Lucca is a large plain that extends from the Serchio River to the hills of San Giuliano Terme. Here you can find cities like Altopascio, Capannori, Porcari, Barga, and Villa Basilica. Versilia is the coastal area of the province, with several famous resorts such as Viareggio, Camaiore, Forte dei Marmi, and Pietrasanta. Media Valle del Serchio extends along the Serchio River, from the hills of Pescaglia to the Apuan Alps, and here you can find municipalities such as Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Bagni di Lucca, and Coreglia Antelminelli. Finally, Garfagnana is a mountainous area carved by the Apuan Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, with municipalities such as Gallicano, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, and Careggine.
Conclusions
In summary, the province of Lucca is a beautiful area of Tuscany, with a very special history and geography. If you are in Tuscany, I recommend you visit its cities and zones, from the hills of Piana di Lucca to the beaches of Versilia, from the woods of Garfagnana to the mountains of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. You will fall in love with its beauty.
