>>     The ideal place for a perfect tuscany villa holiday - a beautifully restored historic farmhouse, set in the unspoilt countryside of Lunigiana The Countryside Tuscany Villa Holiday>In Lunigiana>The Countryside Outdoor Activities   The countryside around Villa Papavero is fantastically varied. Again, there is something for everyone - pasture and woodland, rolling hills, and serious mountains like the Apuane Alps and the Appennine mountain range. Needless to say, there are also many ways of exploring this wonderful landscape.   At the Villa there are guide books and leaflets about local suppliers of facilities and equipment for most of the activities described below. Exploring this wonderful landscape is a joy. In the valleys you can go walking, cycling and horse riding, whilst in the mountains you can indulge in mountain biking, walking & climbing and skiing. However, returning in the evenings to the luxury of Villa Papavero is bliss when compared to a traditional ski chalet.   Horse-riding is available from the Picchio Verdi agriturismo, only five minutes walk from Papavero.   Cycle hire with local English speaking guides is available from Aulla. They bring the bikes to you, or to your chosen start point, and can give advice on the best trails to take.   Walking & Climbing   There are many walking trails close to the villa. Further a-field, for the more adventurous, there are routes for all levels of walking & climbing , from gentle strolls to more demanding scrambles and serious climbs. There is also a varitey of via ferrata climbing (aiided climbs). Hillside in Garfagnana Walking Near Campocatino Village Close by are the Appennines and the Apuane Alps, some of the finest mountains in Italy. Here there are "Via Ferrata" climbing routes, as well as a wide variety of exciting "unsupported" routes. These magnificent mountains provide challenges even for the most experienced of walkers and climbers.   The Serchio Valley, which is flanked on either side by the Apuane Alps and Appennine mountains, has a network of pathways maintained by the Italian Alpine Club (C.A.I).   From these it is possible to reach the most challenging parts of the Apuane Alps and also the ridge of the Appennines. Winter Skiing In winter the ski slopes at Cerreto Laghi, Prato Spilla and Abetone are open from November to March, and also in the midsummer months to take the work out of high level walking and climbing routes. Cerreto Laghi and Prato Spilla can all be reached in less than one hour.   Check out our Gallery of Photos-Albums-Slideshows for more skiing photographs. Click here for Ski Slope Information. Nearby Ski Village On the Piste Touring and Sightseeing A short scenic drive through the countryside takes you to the valley of a hundred castles, littered with picturesque villages; many of which are walled and have their own ancient Malaspanian castles, some open to the public. Pontremoli, Bagnone and Fivizzano  are a few of our favourites Home | WebSite Map | Contact the Owners | Villa Accommodation | Villa Garden | Tuscany Wedding | Local Shopping | In Lunigiana | Weather  Travel to Lunigiana | Villa Rental | Terms and Conditions | WebSite Links Built by John Holden, a Web Site Designer based in Sheffield, using PageBreeze Professional - Copyright 2009, Loveday Property Services