Gramolazzo – Lake, Trails and Paese Alto

Gramolazzo combines a distinctive lake landscape with paths through the Serchio Valley and an older part of town made up of stone houses. This gives the town in Tuscany different points of interest for planning your trip: you can make Lago di Gramolazzo and Parco del Lago the focus, plan a hike on Sentiero CAI 189 or get to know Gramolazzo through its historic districts.

Lago di Gramolazzo and Parco del Lago

Lago di Gramolazzo is an artificial reservoir. It was created in the second half of the 20th century for the hydropower use of the Serchio River and its tributaries. With an area of approximately 1 km², the lake shapes the landscape around Gramolazzo. Its size provides a helpful point of reference if you want to structure your days not exclusively around sightseeing, but also around landscape impressions and quieter stays.

On the left bank of the lake, Parco del Lago was inaugurated in 2016 as part of the tourist redevelopment. You can therefore include this place as a separate item in your plans. Those travelling with several generations or differing interests can combine time by the lake with a visit to the town or a hike without limiting the trip to just one type of experience.

Hiking on Sentiero CAI 189

Sentiero CAI 189 begins at the state road immediately after leaving Gramolazzo. The path initially runs through the broad valley floor of the Serchio. It then continues through the undulating Località Mandria area, with a chestnut forest. This sequence makes the trail particularly interesting for visitors who want to experience different types of landscape during one tour: the open valley floor is followed by a section characterised by chestnut trees.

At the northern shoulder of Poggio, known as Alpe di Ugliano, Sentiero CAI 189 joins Sentiero 181. If you plan this route, you should take the described starting point and the onward course into account when organising your day. Accommodation in Gramolazzo can serve as a base for planning your trip, without implying any specific distances or walking times.

Paese Alto and the churches of Gramolazzo

Paese Alto is the older part of Gramolazzo and consists of stone houses. Those who want to experience the character of the town in addition to the lake and landscape will find a second focus here. The church in Gramolazzo is known locally as “Chiesa Nuova”. Chiesa Vecchia, on the other hand, is situated at a higher elevation above the town and can be reached via small, steep roads. This difference is relevant when visiting the town: for Chiesa Vecchia, the climb along the aforementioned roads is part of the orientation, while Paese Alto provides the town’s historic setting.

Which type of stay suits you?

When searching for a hotel or other accommodation in Gramolazzo, you can first decide what rhythm you want your trip to Tuscany to follow. Lago di Gramolazzo and Parco del Lago are suited to a stay focused on landscapes and quieter moments. Sentiero CAI 189 places a clear emphasis on a hike through the valley floor, Località Mandria and chestnut forest. Paese Alto and the two churches add local history and regional architectural styles to the programme. For families with differing interests, this combination can help bring cultural exploration, activity and relaxation together in one travel plan.

More destinations to compare: Careggine, Capezzano, Porcari, Coreglia Antelminelli, Pescaglia, Vallico di Sotto, Altopascio, Ghivizzano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lucca.