Rio della Rocca

The spectacular  “calanchi” around Rio della Rocca, Castellerano(RE),  I discovered quite  by chance  whilst visiting the castle at S. Valentino. A road runs around the top of this area, so it’s easy to explore the rim with the car. The basin is quite another story.

Castello di San Valentino,Castellarano,RE

Castello di San Valentino,Castellarano,RE

  From the crest of the “calanchi” the views across to the 200m high walls on the other side of the basin are spectacular , especially  at sunset when the colour warms to orange. The “calanchi” are formed  by the erosion of the clay soil, which with the sandy clay found here forms high thin walls.

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Calanchi, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Reading about this zone on the internet I learned that at the top of  Rio della Rocca there is a “Orrido”.

The  Orrido of  Rio Campovecchio seemed from the map to be easy to get to. Things on the ground are a little different. One must first pass through a marsh midway along the valley . The “Orrido”  free of water has a very steep entrance to the final and most interesting section, rock climbing on sand is not easy !

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE



Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE



Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE

The steep sided valleys on the outside of the rim make for some interesting photo’s of the steeply sloping fields

Monti di Cadiroggia, Castellarano,RE

Monti di Cadiroggia, Castellarano,RE

Monti di Cadiroggia, Castellarano,RE

Castagnetto, Castellarano,RE

Monti di Cadiroggia, Castellarano,RE

 This area will be worth  visiting again as I’m sure there is lots more to discover.

Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE



Orrido di Rio Campovecchio, Rio della Rocca, Castellarano,RE



Mud

I decided to explore an area of the Apennines’ foothills above Casalgrande (RE) that I have never visited.



Rio delle Viole from i Locati, Castellarano RE



Guati, Castellarano RE

The walk started at Telarolo near Viano  walking towards Gavaredo following the 602 Footpath.

This part of the walk passes through pleasant rolling countryside, following for the most part a hill crest.

Rio delle Viole from i Locati, Castellarano RE

Rio delle Viole from i Locati, Castellarano RE

Guati, Castellarano RE

Looking towards S. Valentino, Castellarano RE

On reaching Gavardo I had a surprise. Gaveredo is a ruined castle perched on an isolated round hill. I had never heard of this small castle. Not much is left of the castle, but the ruined castle with some equally ruined outhouses is quite atmospheric. This is a place that I will return to photograph properly as I wasn’t carrying my ultra wide angle lens.

Gavardo Castle, Castellarano RE.
This is a stiched photo used as an alternative to a hyper wide angle lens.

Gavardo Castle, Castellarano RE.

Gavardo Castle, Castellarano RE.

Next the long climb up to M. Maesta Bianca. Here a problem that had been present for all the walk really got interesting: mud! The landscape had now become “badlands” and badlands when it is wet means heavy sticky mud. The hundred metre climb with heavy mud stuck to my boots was exhausting.  

Gavardo , Castellarano RE.

M. Maesta Bianca, Castellarano RE.

M. Maesta Bianca, Castellarano RE.

From M Maesta Bianca the view is breathtaking. It was now time to go back to the car as it would be dark in an hour. The footpath descends rapidly down into the valley with the clinging mud still making things heavy going.

Rio delle Viole, Castellarano RE.

Rio delle Viole, Castellarano RE.

I t was now quite dark, and fortunately from Pradella the footpath became a road.