Borgo Giusto: in the countryside of Lucca in Tuscany an ancient village has become part of a fascinating project of widespread hospitality that overlooks the green of the surrounding hills wrapped in an atmosphere of absolute quiet. Just follow the road that, crossing the village of Valdottavo, leads into the woods to enter an enchanted world.
At the gates of Garfagnana
In this village of pink stone, time passes following the rhythms marked by sunrises and magnificent sunsets, between silences to listen to and contact with nature. Borgo Giusto is located in the heart of the Serchio Valley: here the image is not the one that often represents the postcard Tuscany with an expanse of rolling hills and rows of cypress trees, but a wilder countryside that preludes the Garfagnana area which literally means Great Forest. And the name already describes the lush extension of the chestnut and beech woods dotted with small towns. Just like Soccolognora, a small peasant village dating back to 1600, abandoned due to the emigration of its inhabitants to England, left completely deserted more than 50 years ago and reborn as Borgo Giusto in 1995.
In the charming Borgo, overlooking a panorama that sweeps over the hills covered with a thick and iridescent green blanket, the houses of the ancient village have been restored, preserving the foundations and stone walls, and emerging between ancient walls, alleys, flights of stairs and the small square where the wheat was threshed, for a stay proposal immersed in the authentic atmosphere of the place.
Each dwelling has the name of its original owner, just like the ancient village of Soccolognora which became Borgo Giusto, named after Ettore Giusti, founder of the family who first lived there.
The stone houses with chestnut beams and terracotta floors welcome guests among details of period Tuscan-style furnishings and modern comforts, while the restaurant, also open to external guests, offers excellent food that is a hymn to regional tradition. Mrs Francesca will be able to guide you on a sensory journey that tells the story of the territory: from Tuscan crostino to homemade farro tagliolini seasoned with Borgo lemons to the robust taste of stewed wild boar.
The suites, villas and period farmhouses have from two to 12 beds and are independent from each other, therefore perfect for those who travel with a furry companion like us. Each solution is furnished differently and has characteristics that recall the ancient owners.
Ours? Casa del Carabiniere, large and comfortable, with a kitchen with an independent entrance and a window overlooking the village and the valley, two double bedrooms with bathroom, a small stone porch and a fenced garden with a table and chairs where you can enjoy the sunset and relax under the medlar tree. Very convenient parking under the trees and a stone’s throw from the entrance gate, while at the base of the other entrance that with a short flight of steps leads to the Borgo square there is a fountain perfect for cooling off and let our Otto drink.
The rich breakfast, sweet and savory, is served in the restaurant room or, on sunny days during the summer, outside on the panoramic terrace where the view that sweeps over the surrounding hills, olive groves and chestnut trees is also satiated.
Relaxation is guaranteed around the large swimming pool with a large solarium where you can sunbathe comfortably lying down or sip a drink under the umbrellas that also lead, like the houses, the names of the ancient inhabitants of the place. At Borgo Giusto there is also a Spa and Wellness center that offers guests a sauna, Turkish bath, a room for massages and mud baths and also a relaxation area to enjoy a hot drink.
From Borgo Giusto there are several paths that lead through the thick shady woods to the nearby villages, while for the more distant destinations in the surrounding area a car is necessary. Don’t miss a visit to the legendary Ponte del Diavolo in Borgo a Mozzano, the thermal springs of Bagni di Lucca and the medieval historic center of Barga dominated by the Romanesque cathedral dating back to the 11th century.
Walking with our Otto through the cobbled streets of the village, delighted by the chirping of birds in the morning and the intermittent lights of the many fireflies in the evening, made us experience forgotten sensations. In Borgo Giusto time seems to have stopped and at every corner you can breathe history, that of those who lived there in the past as inhabitants, but also of those who later decided to enjoy its tranquility as tourists.
A special place, with a proud and tenacious beauty, that teaches us to respect what we have inherited. Borgo Giusto is ideal as a weekend destination even together with your four-legged friend with whom you can breathe the presence of the centuries and an ancient grace detached from modern times.
Borgo Giusto
Via Soccolognora, 6 – Borgo a Mozzano (LU)
Info: www.borgogiustotuscany.com
info@borgogiustotuscany.com – +39 0583 835568
