WHILE holidays to places like Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan remain popular, there are several other Italian towns that seem to have flown under the radar. Popular towns and cities in Italy can get very crowded, but there are still some secluded spots where holidaymakers can relax in peace. One of those places is Barga — a small destination in Tuscany that's been dubbed Italy's most Scottish town.
Located in the Apuan Alps, the walled town has been tied to Scotland since the 19 th century when Tuscan families moved to the UK for work. While many Italian families opted to emigrate to America, Canada and South America, plenty ended up settling in Scotland. It is thought that around 60 per cent of the town's 10,000 residents can claim to have relatives in Scotland to this day.
Mayor Umberto Sereni, told the BBC : "Many people from Barga live in Scotland, it is the history of our people, we went to Scotland for work. "Now we can see many people from Scotland in Barga. We are very proud to be the most Scottish town in Italy .
"Any Scotsman who comes to Barga should feel at home - like in a little Scotland." Barga is home to one of only two Celtic Supporters' Clubs in the country, with a Rangers Newspaper also on display in the town's museum. The Tuscan town celebrates its ties to Scotland with a three-week long fish and Chips festival also known as Sagra del Pesce e Patate.
Visitors can expect to see locals playing bagpipes, traditional dancing, a market selling a range of pro.