Nature Reserves present in Italy managed by the State Forestry Corps from the Territorial Office of Lucca. L’Orrido di Botri is the largest and deepest canyon in Tuscany, it’s difficult to walk through and is opened to the public from June to September.The entrance to the reserve is by payment, at Ponte a Gaio one can buy a ticket,rent a safety helmet and get all the necessary information on all the routes and on the territory.All the excursions must be registered at the State Forestery Corps Center at Ponte a Gaio, so they know whats going on in the reserve.These are the different routes:
1° Route - Ponte a Gaio - Piscina
Lasts - 2hrs(1hr going, 1hr return)
Level - easy from 6 years and up
Guide - not obligatory
2° Route - Ponte a Gaio - Piscina - Guadina
Lasts - 4hrs(2hrs going, 2hrs return)
Level - easy from 6 years and up
Guide - not obilgatory
3° Route - Ponte a Gaio - Rifugio Casentini - Rio Mariana e decesa a corda (descent with robes)
Lasts - 6-7hrs
Level - difficult
Guide - obilgatory
For further information and booking call the Visitors Centre Orrido di Botri of the State Forestry Corps at 0583/800022 - 800020
How to get to the reserve:
The easiest way is along the state road 445 from Fornoli towards Calavorno,arriving at the roundabout take the road to the right towards Val Fegana - Tereglio, and keep going until you arrive at Ponte a Gaio. Another route is from Bagni di Lucca - on the roaf to Montefegatesi then take a dirt road down to Ponte a Gaio.