6 – STRETTI DI GIAREDO (ENG)

The Stretti di Giaredo is a fascinating and colorful natural canyon, carved by the Gordana stream, stretching between the territories of Pontremoli and Zeri. The formation of the Stretti is the result of erosion, as the stream, subjected to cyclical floods and droughts, has gradually shaped the canyon’s towering rock walls, which rise nearly 20 meters high.

The Gordana stream originates on Tecchione Mountain (1,582 m a.s.l.), near the Pass of Two Saints, and flows for approximately 18 km before joining the Magra River, near Pontremoli. The section known as the Stretti di Giaredo is the most accessible part of the gorge, extending for about 1 kilometer, with steep and imposing rock walls that closely flank the stream.

Today, the Stretti and the Gordana Valley are part of the Natura 2000 network, a European initiative for biodiversity conservation, and have been designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the name “Gordana Stream Valley”. The protected area covers 250 hectares and is also part of the UNESCO MAB Reserve of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

Visitors can immerse themselves in a bucolic landscape, where the songs of birds and the gentle sound of flowing water create an atmosphere of serenity. As you walk upstream along the riverbed, the scenery becomes increasingly wild and mesmerizing, with majestic, colorful rock formations rising dramatically. Along the way, hidden pools of crystal-clear water and secluded corners reveal themselves, where sunlight filtering through the rocky crevices creates dancing reflections on the canyon walls — adding a magical touch to the journey.