Apuane Day - Arnetola Valley

A day for the Apuan Alps

Apuane Day is a hiking and environmental event held in the Arnetola Valley, in the municipality of Vagli Sotto, in the province of Lucca, in the heart of the Tuscan Apuan Alps. It is not a traditional festival, but a public demonstration that combines an accessible walk with a strong message of environmental protection, summarized in the organizers' slogan: "For a Natural Park. Against the Quarry Park."

The Arnetola Valley, a fragile treasure

The Arnetola Valley is considered one of the most emblematic and delicate areas of the Apuan Alps: a treasure trove of biodiversity, karst phenomena, history, and landscape. It is also a symbol of the pressure exerted by marble quarrying on the Apuan territory, with active quarries in the basin and fears of new openings in sensitive areas near the Via Vandelli trail and the hermitage of San Viano. The day was created specifically to raise awareness and defend this corner of the Tuscan mountains.

A hike for everyone

The proposed route is short and free of technical difficulties, classified as T (tourist): approximately 2.6 km round trip, with an elevation gain of about 300 meters and an estimated duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes including stops. The path runs entirely on a dirt road, making it suitable even for those who are not experienced hikers, provided they have appropriate mountain clothing and footwear.

A network of associations

The event is promoted by CAI Toscana - CRTAM (Regional Committee for the Protection of the Mountain Environment) together with a vast network of environmental groups and local committees, including Apuane Libere, Amici della Terra Versilia, ARCI Massa Carrara, CIPIT, Comitato Custodi della Ceragiola, Comitato per la chiusura della ex Cava Fornace, Comitato Ugo Pisa, Gasvezza, Italia Nostra, various sections of Legambiente, La Voce degli Alberi, and WWF Alta Toscana. A collective mobilization that makes the Arnetola Valley a meeting point for those who care about the future of the Apuan Alps.

Why participate

Participating in Apuane Day means combining the pleasure of a walk in one of Tuscany's most beautiful settings with the desire to learn about a precious and threatened territory. It is an opportunity to listen to the voices of those who study and protect the mountains, to reflect on the relationship between the marble economy and nature conservation, and to spend a day in the open air in the company of hikers, naturalists, and citizens from across the region.