Out of the way Apennines

Continuing my exploration of the mid Apennines I  found  a couple of new places to explore.

The  first area I found is  a cluster of hamlets above the Enza Valley.  The second area is the Dolo Valley.

Ponte di Cadignano

Starting at  Roncaglio (RE) above the Enza river,  I did a circular walk passing Solara,Case Curti,Massalicia, Verlano and Iagarone before returning to Roncaglio. Each hamlet has its own distinctive “casa torre” .

Chiesa di Roncaglio

Casa Torre Solara

Case torre Massalica

Verlano

Casa Torre Verlano

Roncaglio

Albereto seen from Iagarone

Massalica

The second walk I did was to descend from  the hamlet of Cadignano (near Gova RE) down to the river Dolo.

At this point the river is crossed by a medieval hump back bridge -  “schiena d’assino” or mules back in Italian. The bridge was on the medieval or probably Roman via Bibulca which connected Emilia with Tuscany.   

Ponte di Cadignano

Ponte di Cadignano

Ponte di Cadignano

Watefall near Ponte di Cadignano

Cadignano RE

Cadignano RE

Cadignano RE

Torrione di Gova

Torrione di Gova

I also found some time to explore Monchio dell' Olle (RE)  and Albareto (RE)

Double arch, Albereto RE

Casa Torre, Albereto RE

Casa Torre, Monchio dell'Olle RE

Casa Torre, Monchio dell'Olle RE

  

Tower houses - Case Torre

Recently  I have been exploring the  lower Apennine foothills.

Here are some photo’s of my latest wanderings.

One of the defining features of this zone is the presence of fortified farm houses known as “Case Torre”. Each hamlet usually has one or two.

The first walk was from Viano (RE) to the castle of Viano. The first point of interest is a “Casa torre”  or Tower house. The walk ended at the castle which is being restored.

Casa Torre. S. Polo, Viano

Window with Lombard symbol.S. Polo, Viano

Viano Castle

Viano Castle

The second walk  I did was to go from Vedriano(RE) to Pietra Nera. These are two medieval “borghi”. Each has its own tower house.

Pietra Nera

Vedriano

Who did the structural engineering?

Casa Torre. Pietra Nera

Pietra Nera

Vedriano

At the  end  of Pietra Nera is a balsalt volcanic outcrop which gives the hamlet its name.

Pietra Nera

On the way back home I stopped at Borzano.

Borzano

Medieval good luck charm

Bad weather coming in from Liguria

Whilst wasting time at lunchtime the other day ( I get a two hour lunch break !)  I took some photo’s near Canossa(RE).   

Cavandola