The Orrido di Botri Nature Reserve is a rough and imposing limestone gorge in the municipality of Bagni di Lucca.

Visits within the reserve leave from the Forest Rangers' Welcome Centre in Ponte Gaio and are divided into four routes of varying difficulty (from one to four hours) only accessible in the summer months from June to September. The trails, which last for several kilometres, develop in the bed of a creek with very fresh water.

The steep walls are carved in depth from the waters of the river Rio Pelago and are home to a flora characterised by various species such as saxifrage, evergreens, columbines, auricola, mosses and ferns.

The area is also home to numerous mammals such as wolves, which are present throughout the Apennines, deer, hares, squirrels, marmots, foxes, porcupines, skunks and martens as well as several predatory species such as golden eagles, goshawks, sparrow hawks, buzzards, honey buzzards, kestrels, peregrine falcons and owls.

Nature reserve of Orrido di Botri, Rio Pelago river

Nature reserve of Orrido di Botri, rock cliffs

Nature reserve of Orrido di Botri, guided excursions

Nature reserve of Orrido di Botri, Rio Pelago river