Up to 1965 there were still some working mills in the Fegana valley. Now they have all been converted into private residences or holiday accommodation. One of these mills was restored in 1990 and, until relatively recently, provided not so much B n B but home hospitality as its extrovert host liked to term it.

Here are some views around the mill. In particular note the bridge which has had to be rebuilt no less than seven times because of the river flood waters which have swept previous versions away.

A fine round trip to do either on two wheels or four from Longoio is to go down to Bagni di Lucca and go towards Calavorno but turn right at the big roundabout and head up the very attractive Fegana valley.

There are two main villages to discover: Tereglio and Vitiana. Tereglio is a particularly fine ‘borgo’ stretched along a ridge, possessing a very beautiful church and holding an annual violoncello master class under Sebastian Comberti and Raphael Wallfisch, all described in my post at https://longoio.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/the-violoncelli-of-tereglio/

The road one is travelling on forms part of the old grand ducal road, described in another of my posts at https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/foce-a-giovo/

However, for the circular tour one should turn right at the sign for the Orrido di Botri canyon and Montefegatesi. Here it’s possible to stop at the Nido dell ’Aquila restaurant (see http://www.ilnidodell-aquila.com/cms/ ).

From the Nido the road proceeds uphill towards Montefegatesi through a magical chestnut forest. Be warned, however, that the road is from this point mostly unmetalled and can be a bit skiddy in wet weather unless one has appropriate tyres.

From Montefegatesi it’s an easy ride down into Val di Lima to Longoio.

The possibilities of this route are endless. Here are some of them:

1. A visit to Tereglio
2. An exploration of the orrido di Botri canyon.
3. A visit to Montefegatesi
4. A sortie up to Albereta and a climb to the top of the Prato Fiorito which, at this time of year is full of an intoxicating species of wild daffodils. (See my post at https://longoio2.wordpress.com/2017/05/18/elysium-on-earth/ for more of this amazing sight.
5. A walk through the chestnut forest.
6. A continuation up the grand ducal road to the Foce a Giovo pass and a ramble on the grand Apennine ridgeway path number 00.

Why go on a world tour when a whole miniature world is displayed for you here in the space of just one day?