Serchio
Encyclopedia
At 126 kilometres the Serchio (in antiquity the Auser) is the third longest river in the Italian region of Tuscany
, coming after the Arno (242 km) and the Ombrone
(161 km). By mean rate of flow it is the second largest, following the Arno but preceding the Ombrone.
The principal source forms on the slopes of Monte Sillano (1,864 metres) and is joined by a secondary branch, the Serchio di Gramolazzo, at Piazza al Serchio
.
The river then crosses Garfagnana
from north to south, from Sillano
to a location beyond Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
; from here it continues through the Media Valle touching the municipal borders of the Comune
of Barga
and crossing the territory of Borgo a Mozzano
. In this section of the river, which is dammed in a number of places, it receives from the right the waters of the Edron, Tùrrite Secca, Tùrrite di Gallicano, Turrite Cava and the Pedogna; and from the left those of the Fiume, the Castiglione, the Sillico, and its most important tributary the Lima. This last, which is born at the Passo dell'Abetone and collects the waters of the Modenese
and Pistoiese
high Apennines, forms a sub-basin in its own right and achieves a mean discharge of more than 20 cubic metres per second.
Having reached the plain of Lucca
, where it is joined by the torrent Freddana, the Serchio turns westwards, crosses the “straits”of Filettole, and enters the Province of Pisa
. Here it runs through San Giuliano Terme
and Vecchiano
before entering the Tyrrhenian Sea
in the area of the Parco di San Rossore, a few kilometres to the north of Pisa
.
The national road SS 12 (Abetone
– Brennero
) follows the course of the Serchio already to a Lucca's valley, after going up until Bagni di Lucca
;
from here until to the origins, from street to Capanne di Sillano
and the step of Pradarena.
The localities that the river crosses are, in Garfagnana
: Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
, Barga
, Bagni di Lucca
; and in Lucchesia: Borgo a Mozzano
and Lucca
.
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, coming after the Arno (242 km) and the Ombrone
Ombrone
The Ombrone is a 160 km long river in Tuscany, central Italy.The Ombrone's source is located near Castelnuovo Berardenga, on the south-eastern side of the Monti del Chianti...
(161 km). By mean rate of flow it is the second largest, following the Arno but preceding the Ombrone.
The principal source forms on the slopes of Monte Sillano (1,864 metres) and is joined by a secondary branch, the Serchio di Gramolazzo, at Piazza al Serchio
Piazza al Serchio
Piazza al Serchio is a comune in the Province of Lucca in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 90 km northwest of Florence and about 40 km northwest of Lucca....
.
The river then crosses Garfagnana
Garfagnana
Garfagnana is an historical region of Italy, today part of the province of Lucca in the Apennines, in northwest Tuscany, but before the unification of Italy it belonged to the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, ruled by the Este family. For a short time, in the 16th century, it was governed by the poet...
from north to south, from Sillano
Sillano
Sillano is a comune in the Province of Lucca in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 90 km northwest of Florence and about 45 km northwest of Lucca...
to a location beyond Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is a town and comune in the province of Lucca, Toscana, central Italy. It is located at rises at the confluence of the Serchio and the Turrite Secca river, close to the intersection among the roads passing through the Apennine Mountains and the Apuane Alps.The local...
; from here it continues through the Media Valle touching the municipal borders of the Comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Barga
Barga
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...
and crossing the territory of Borgo a Mozzano
Borgo a Mozzano
Borgo a Mozzano is a town and comune in the province of Lucca, in northern Tuscany .-Main sights:Borgo a Mozzano is dominated by the presence of Ponte della Maddalena also called "del Diavolo" . The Devil's Bridge is located on the SP2 one kilometer north of downtown...
. In this section of the river, which is dammed in a number of places, it receives from the right the waters of the Edron, Tùrrite Secca, Tùrrite di Gallicano, Turrite Cava and the Pedogna; and from the left those of the Fiume, the Castiglione, the Sillico, and its most important tributary the Lima. This last, which is born at the Passo dell'Abetone and collects the waters of the Modenese
Province of Modena
The Province of Modena is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Modena.It has an area of 2,689 km², and a total population of 659,925 . There are 48 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Modena.At May 31, 2005, the main comuni by population...
and Pistoiese
Province of Pistoia
The Province of Pistoia is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Pistoia. It has an area of 965 km², and a total population of 268,503 . There are 22 communes in the province .-External links:...
high Apennines, forms a sub-basin in its own right and achieves a mean discharge of more than 20 cubic metres per second.
Having reached the plain of Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
, where it is joined by the torrent Freddana, the Serchio turns westwards, crosses the “straits”of Filettole, and enters the Province of Pisa
Province of Pisa
The Province of Pisa is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Pisa.It has an area of 2,448 km², and a total population of 394,101 . There are 39 comuni in the province ....
. Here it runs through San Giuliano Terme
San Giuliano Terme
San Giuliano Terme is a comune in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 60 km west of Florence and about 7 km northeast of Pisa.- Main sights :...
and Vecchiano
Vecchiano
Vecchiano is a comune in the Province of Pisa in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 70 km west of Florence and about 8 km north of Pisa...
before entering the Tyrrhenian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
in the area of the Parco di San Rossore, a few kilometres to the north of Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
.
The national road SS 12 (Abetone
Abetone
Abetone is a comune in the Province of Pistoia in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 80 km northwest of Florence and about 49 km northwest of Pistoia...
– Brennero
Brennero
Brennero may refer to:* Brenner, a village in South Tyrol* Brenner Pass...
) follows the course of the Serchio already to a Lucca's valley, after going up until Bagni di Lucca
Bagni di Lucca
Bagni di Lucca is a comune of Tuscany, Italy, in the Province of Lucca with a population of c. 6,500.-History:Bagni di Lucca was known for its thermal springs since the Etruscan and Roman Ages....
;
from here until to the origins, from street to Capanne di Sillano
Sillano
Sillano is a comune in the Province of Lucca in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 90 km northwest of Florence and about 45 km northwest of Lucca...
and the step of Pradarena.
The localities that the river crosses are, in Garfagnana
Garfagnana
Garfagnana is an historical region of Italy, today part of the province of Lucca in the Apennines, in northwest Tuscany, but before the unification of Italy it belonged to the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, ruled by the Este family. For a short time, in the 16th century, it was governed by the poet...
: Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is a town and comune in the province of Lucca, Toscana, central Italy. It is located at rises at the confluence of the Serchio and the Turrite Secca river, close to the intersection among the roads passing through the Apennine Mountains and the Apuane Alps.The local...
, Barga
Barga
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...
, Bagni di Lucca
Bagni di Lucca
Bagni di Lucca is a comune of Tuscany, Italy, in the Province of Lucca with a population of c. 6,500.-History:Bagni di Lucca was known for its thermal springs since the Etruscan and Roman Ages....
; and in Lucchesia: Borgo a Mozzano
Borgo a Mozzano
Borgo a Mozzano is a town and comune in the province of Lucca, in northern Tuscany .-Main sights:Borgo a Mozzano is dominated by the presence of Ponte della Maddalena also called "del Diavolo" . The Devil's Bridge is located on the SP2 one kilometer north of downtown...
and Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
.