Vagli di Sotto’s mayor appears to have a very positive approach to publicizing the attractions of his comune. After last year’s opening of the Tibetan bridge (actually a pedestrian suspension bridge rather like the one near us at Mammiano) ‘zip-flying’, suspended from a steel cable, has become the latest attraction of the comune. (See https://www.vaglipark.it/en/attractions-and-activities/fly-line/# for more details).

We already have visited the ponte Tibetano and described our experience at https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/a-tibetan-bridge-in-the-garfagnana/

This time we crossed the bridge and began a marvellous walk round the lake and into the chestnut forests. I particularly appreciated the signs indicating the flora to us, the little shrines known as ‘marginette’ and the traditional use of stone slates on some roofs.

It was worth spending two euros to cross the turnstile at the start of the walk since the money goes on maintaining the footpath and its related facilities. Although some people may object to having to pay to go on a footpath as if it were some pedestrian tax there are several footpaths in Italy which are maintained by a small entrance fee. Another example is the spectacular Cinque Terre footpath which hugs the Ligurian coastline.

We greatly enjoyed our walk last week and found the Lake of Vagli a little fuller than it was last time!

We also revisited the wonderful five hundred year old chestnut tree near Roggio,  happily still surviving, and took the Castiglione road.

All the way it was glorious sunshine as usual in this splendid autumn season. Needless to say we returned home with some excellent roasting chestnuts.