Orrido di Botri: a natural canyon

Orrido di Botri is a canyon in the Valle di Serchio, a paradise for nature lovers and those who adore the thrill of walking through a steep, rocky gorge.

An impressive limestone gorge rich with vegetation and rare animal species such as the royal eagle
This canyon in the Valle di Serchio is a paradise for nature lovers and those who adore the thrill of walking through a steep, rocky gorge. The Orrido di Botri near Bagni di Lucca is an impressive limestone gorge with steep walls carved out of the rock by the cold water of the Rio Pelago.
The Orrido forms a very narrow valley created by water erosion. Movements of the earth’s tectonic forces also played a role in creating this dramatic gorge, as fractures and crevasses aided the flow of water in shaping the land.
The canyon is quite unspoiled and so is also home to many rare and majestic animals such as the royal eagle and the wolf.

In order to protect and preserve the natural beauty of this site, the Orrido di Botri was awarded Nature Reserve status in 1971. The reserve covers an area of 286 hectares and is run by the Corpo Forestale dello Stato (the State Parks Protection Service).
All visits to the Orrido begin at the Ponte a Gaio (Gaio Bridge) which is the only way into the reserve. There is a visitor’s centre and ticket office there. The reserve is open from June through to September and all visitors must wear helmets.

Visitors enter the canyon itself by walking along the river bed right up to an area known as ‘Piscina’ (‘Pool’). This walk takes about 4 hours. It’s possible to take a guided walk through the gorge in groups of at least 8 people.

Directions
The Orrido di Botri is in the Lucca province, to the border of the Emilia region.
In order to reach the entrance of the canyon it is necessary to run the road 12 of the Abetone and Brennero until Chifenti, therefore to the left on the road 445 in direction of the Garfagnana. A fork on the right after 4 Km about will signalise the road for L' Orrido.
The canyon can be reached also from BAGNI DI LUCCA by the road passing through Montefegatesi and then down to Ponte a Gaio, a less easy way then the previous.

Informazioni:
Comunità Montana Media Valle del Serchio
Via Umberto I, 100
55023 Borgo a Mozzano (LU)
Tel. 0583 88346

Centro Visitatori Orrido di Botri
Loc. Ponte a Gaio Montefegatesi (LU)
Tel. 0583 800022