Parco del Battiferro: Mines, Zip-Lines and River Trekking in the Heart of the Apuan Alps
If you're the kind of traveller who wants more than beautiful views — who wants to feel a place, not just look at it — then Parco del Battiferro deserves a full day on your Tuscan itinerary. Just 85 kilometres from Villa Agnolaccio, nestled in the wild landscape of Fornovolasco in the Garfagnana, this adventure park sits at the point where ancient industrial history meets pure mountain nature. The result is unlike anything else in the region.
Where Iron, Rock and Water Come Together
Fornovolasco is a small village deep in the Apuan Alps, the same mountains that hide Carrara marble on one side and centuries of iron-mining history on the other. The name "Battiferro" — literally iron beater — says it all. These hills were once alive with the sound of industry, with miners descending daily into the rock to extract the ore that fed the furnaces of the Garfagnana.
Today, those galleries have been transformed into something extraordinary: a park where the raw energy of the past meets adventure experiences designed for every kind of visitor, from families with young children to groups seeking a genuine adrenaline rush.
Just a few minutes from the park you'll also find the famous Grotta del Vento, one of Italy's most spectacular show caves — a natural addition if you want to turn the day into a double experience.
What to Do at Parco del Battiferro
Mine Tour — Into the Heart of the Mountain This is the experience that makes Parco del Battiferro truly unique. Equipped with a helmet, you descend into the historic galleries of Fornovolasco to discover ancient extraction techniques, the tools the miners left behind, and the magnetic silence of underground life. It is a journey through time that leaves even the most seasoned travellers genuinely moved. Duration: approximately 3 hours. From €30 per person. Minimum age: 8 years.
River Trekking — Following the Torrent Wading through crystal-clear mountain streams, sliding over rocks polished smooth by centuries of water, crossing hidden canyons with the sound of waterfalls above and below — the river trekking route at Battiferro is one of those experiences that makes adults feel like children again. Wetsuits and helmets are provided. Duration: approximately 2 hours. From €30 per person. Minimum age: 8 years.
Zip-Line and Aerial Course — Flying Above the Canyon For those who want to look down at it all from above, the aerial circuit combines Tibetan bridges, via ferrata sections and a zip-line over the canyon. The continuous life-line system means safety is never in doubt — your only job is to breathe, look out, and let go. Duration: approximately 1.5 hours. From €30 per person. Minimum age: 10 years.
Marmotte Adventure — For the Youngest Explorers The park hasn't forgotten its smallest visitors. The Marmotte Adventure section offers dedicated experiences for children, turning the natural environment into a playground built around curiosity and wonder.
Overnight in the Park — Sleeping Under the Apuane Stars For those who want to push the experience further, Battiferro offers the possibility to spend the night under the stars, in tents equipped in partnership with Decathlon. Falling asleep to the sound of the torrent and waking up in the middle of the Apuan Alps is, simply put, something you will not forget. From €60 per person. (Check seasonal availability directly with the park before planning an overnight stay.)
Villa Agnolaccio: Your Base for a Day in the Apuane
Parco del Battiferro is 85 kilometres from Villa Agnolaccio — just under two hours by car, winding through the Val di Lima and into the heart of the Garfagnana — a drive that is itself part of the experience. It is the ideal distance for a full day trip: far enough to feel like a real adventure, close enough to be back at the villa in time for a quiet evening.
There is something deeply satisfying about spending the day underground and above the treetops, then returning to a B&B surrounded by Tuscan countryside. The contrast is what makes it work — the wildness of the Apuane, and then the gentleness of the hills around Pistoia.
Why choose Villa Agnolaccio to visit Parco del Battiferro:
85 km away — just under 2 hours through beautiful mountain scenery
Perfect base for a full-day adventure in the Garfagnana
A peaceful, restorative place to return to after an active day
Breakfast with local products to fuel you before the drive
Ideal position to combine the Apuane with Pistoia, Lucca, and the surrounding area
Imagine the perfect day: an early breakfast at Villa Agnolaccio, the drive north into the mountains as the mist sits in the valleys, a morning in the mines or on the river, lunch in Fornovolasco, an afternoon on the zip-line or a visit to the Grotta del Vento just down the road, and then the return south as the light drops over the Pistoia hills. You're back at the villa before dark, tired in the best possible way.
Book your room at Villa Agnolaccio and add Parco del Battiferro to your Tuscan journey. Because Tuscany, when you look for it, is much wilder and more surprising than the postcards suggest.