Barga (Tuscany)

Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It the chief town of the "Media Valle" (mid valley) of the Serchio River. The town overlooked by the village of Albiano, a località of Barga, which in the 10th century was the site of a castle protecting the town. Barga is named, "The most Scottish town in Italy," because at the end of the 19th century a number of Italians from the town emigrated to Scotland. There were many returnees over the years and now up to 40% of present day residents have Scottish relatives. There is an annual international opera festival, called "Opera Barga Festival", and a long-running and very successful jazz festival, "Bargajazz". Recently, Barga has become the home of many painters, including John Bellany who exhibit their work in some of the small galleries within the castle walls. The Italian Touring Club has recently assigned the "orange flag" of the "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" ("Best Villages of Italy"), a distinguished sign recognizing the peculiarity of its beauty and of its quality.