Rio Selvano
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CANYON IN TUSCANY
Characteristics
- Level:
Sporty - Duration of activity:
3-4 hours - Total duration:
5 hours - Access:
5 minutes - Return:
5 minutes
- Period:
from April to October - Starting from:
14 years - Mandatory dive:
3 meters - Mandatory descent:
12 meters - Price:
70 euros / person
Rio Selvano
Rio Selvano is certainly the most interesting and complete torrent we can find in Tuscany. It offers a fun and varied descent in an exceptional natural setting. The route features a series of waterfalls and pools with alternating jumps, natural slides and some rope descents. A real concentration of canyoning. Practicable throughout the entire season, the canyon offers a perfect descent for a sporting day in beautiful nature. Once the technical material has been distributed, it is necessary to organise a shuttle bus a few kilometres to the parking area upstream of the canyon. It is also possible to reach the starting point on foot with a half-hour walk among the chestnut trees. Before starting the river descent, you will receive all the necessary information on safety and progression in the torrent. The descent begins with a few small waterfalls until quickly finding the first spectacular passage, a rope abseil down a steep slide. From here, small and large slides alternate with abseiling and walking areas. Halfway down we find the highest and most impressive abseil. The next part is perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing: the torrent becomes more pronounced and we proceed between magnificently sculpted by the flowing water. The last succession of small pools and waterfalls leads us to the old bridge that marks the end of the route. There still remains, for the most daring, the possibility of a final 10-metre jump into the final pool. From here it takes five minutes to reach the parking area downstream of the canyon. Just one hour from Lucca, Pisa and Florence, the Garfagnana offers many sporting and tourist possibilities, from rafting to climbing, from wine and food tours to visiting art cities such as the splendid nearby Barga. If you feel like repeating the experience, we can offer you the magnificent descent of Rio Lerca, in Liguria.
General Information
Rio Selvano is located in the Turrite Cava valley, in the heart of Garfagnana, not far from the small but famous Barga and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. A fun and varied route through a fascinating and mysterious landscape. Easily reached from Lucca, Pisa, Florence and the Versilia coast, this stream will offer you the opportunity to discover the Garfagnana, a rich and fascinating territory.
Vertical features
The 150 metres of altitude difference are distributed fairly evenly along the kilometre-long descent, creating a series of more or less high waterfalls, interspersed with short walking areas. The possibilities for diving and slides are therefore numerous, as well as rope abseiling. These are never too complicated but require attention due to some slippery passages. The highest waterfall, at 14 metres, has a beautiful abseil, just below the waterfall, which is truly exciting. It is important to note that the technique of abseiling will be demonstrated and taught to you in a gradual and progressive manner until you are able to perform it independently.
Water features
With its moderate range, swimming areas are never problematic. Practicable from March to October, often at the beginning of the season the water level is higher and the descent more sporty. The rather cool temperature of the water surprises in the first few pools but generally the rhythm of the descent and the presence of some walking areas help us warm up quickly and the activity is pleasant. Following prolonged and heavy rainfall, the level can rise significantly, only to return to normal levels within a few days.
Engagement
The canyon has some more recessed parts, particularly sculpted and worked, but short and shallow. The route makes it possible to quickly exit the river bed, but after the first six waterfalls, it becomes problematic to reach an emergency exit path because of the steep forest that surrounds us.
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