From here, on foot or by bicycle, you can follow the 11-kilometer loop that, once you reach the San Pietro bridge, returns to the starting point following the banks on the right bank of the river.
The Serchio River Park flows through an agricultural area and is an integral part of it. The road is lined with crops of cereals and poplars, whose regularly arranged, tall white trunks and broad foliage create a pleasant backdrop of light and shadow.
The left side, closest to the city, also offers the most options for refreshments: the skate area, the refreshment stand for "tiro della forma" (a traditional game of skill involving throwing cheese wheels), the equestrian center, the Fattoira degli Albogatti with its urban gardens where you can learn more about the agricultural side of Lucca's silk production, among mulberry trees and cocoons. It's here that the river festival is held every September, with games, snacks, and concerts.
From the right side, you can easily access the "little beach" where, in summer, you can enjoy the cool river waters or, in any season, paddle down in a kayak for long, peaceful stretches all the way to the sea.
Each season has its own beauty and colors. In spring, the fresh green of the first buds of the willow and white poplar, and the coppery black poplar, accompany the walk, along with the blooms of chicory and mallow. In summer, the dense foliage of the poplars and willows shade the path lined with golden fields of wheat and straw. In autumn, the warm colors of the leaves lend a romantic air to the river on the day of the celebration of Saint Frediano and the ritual blessing. The hills are dominated by the red and yellow of the freshly harvested vines. In winter, the silvery, bare branches allow the gaze to sweep across the hills dotted with historic villas and small parish churches, all the way to the crests of the Apuan Alps.
The FAQ - can you fish in the Serchio?
Fishing is permitted in the Serchio River Park. A Tuscany Region license valid for 15 days or one year is required. More information here > Tuscany Region Amateur Fishing