Gramolazzo: Reservoir, CAI 189 and Paese Alto

Gramolazzo brings together an artificial reservoir, a described section of the Sentiero CAI 189 and an older part of town with stone houses. For planning your trip, these offer three different perspectives: the use of the river for hydroelectric power, a changing trail landscape and the architectural character of the Paese Alto. If you are looking for a hotel, this thematic focus can help you decide whether Gramolazzo is the right destination for you.

Reservoir and Parco del Lago

Lago di Gramolazzo is an artificial reservoir created in the second half of the 20th century to harness the hydroelectric power of the Serchio River and its tributaries. It covers an area of about 1 km². Its origin and purpose are therefore connected: the lake is not just a landscape feature, but also part of the river's use for energy generation. The area figure gives a concrete sense of its size.

Parco del Lago was inaugurated in 2016 as part of the tourist redevelopment of the lake's left bank. This places two distinct periods side by side: the reservoir's construction for hydroelectric power in the second half of the 20th century and the later tourist redevelopment of the shore. This sequence presents the waterside landscape in both technical and tourist terms.

The route of Sentiero CAI 189

Sentiero CAI 189 starts on the main road just beyond the edge of Gramolazzo. The section from Gramolazzo to Foce Rifogliola first crosses the broad floor of the Serchio valley. It then passes through the undulating terrain of Località Mandria, which has a chestnut forest. The route thus moves from a broad valley to rolling terrain and a specifically named woodland. If you are interested in the route, you can make this sequence of landscapes the focus of the section.

At the northern Spallone of Poggio, Sentiero 189 joins Sentiero 181; the Spallone is known as Alpe di Ugliano. The connection to the second named trail is therefore also part of the route description. Trail conditions can change, so check the current situation before setting out.

Paese Alto and the churches

Paese Alto is the older part of Gramolazzo and consists of stone houses. Its description as the older part of town and the building material convey two different aspects: its place within the town and its architectural character. For a look at the village's structure, Paese Alto offers a different focus from the reservoir and hiking trail: here, the focus is on the older built-up area, rather than the use of the river or the changing landscapes along a route.

One church in Gramolazzo is locally known as Chiesa Nuova. Chiesa Vecchia is on higher ground above the town and can be reached via small, steep roads. The two named churches therefore also differ in how they are identified: for Chiesa Nuova, the local name is the reference point; for Chiesa Vecchia, the higher location and the described road route are additional markers. If you plan to visit Chiesa Vecchia, take the steep roads into account.

To decide whether Gramolazzo fits your travel plans, you can weigh these themes against one another: the creation of the reservoir and the later development of the lakeshore, the succession of landscapes along Sentiero CAI 189, or the older buildings of Paese Alto. This gives your search for a hotel in Gramolazzo a specific connection to your destination, without requiring every stay to have the same focus.

Discover more destinations: Villa Basilica, Piazza Al Serchio, Gallicano, Camaiore, Motrone, Partigliano, Vergemoli, Altopascio.

For the broader travel overview: Lucca.