NIGEL'S RAMBLES: April 2012

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Quara and the Balze del Malpasso

At last I managed to find a whole day to walk in the mountains.

I decided to do a circular route in the mid Apennines between Toano and Villa Minozzo (RE). I left the car at Quara and took the 611/613 footpath towards Gova. On this first leg of the walk I was rewarded with some magnificent views of Mount Cusna, gleaming white with a fresh layer of snow.

Cusna from Costabona, Villa Minozzo, RE

Costabona, Villa Minozzo, RE

Above Gova, Villa Minozzo, RE

My first stop was at the remains of the castle above Gova, not much remains, just the tower.

Torrione di Gova, Villa Minozzo, RE

Gova, Villa Minozzo, RE

Cadignano, Villa Minozzo, RE

I Decided to head for the medieval bridge at Cadignano for lunch before taking the Sentiero Matilde to the Balze del Malpasso.

Ponte di Cadignano,Villa Minozo, RE

This stretch of footpath was the most interesting part, especially the stretch with a 250 metre shear drop on one side of the path. The views of the Dolo Valley are spectacular.

Torrente Dolo, Villa Minozzo, RE

Sentiero Matilde, Cadignano, Villa Minozzo, RE

The Balze del Malpasso is a zone where two deep gorges join together making for an interesting landscape. Time was running short so I did not have time to explore the place as much as I would of liked.

This is a place to return to for a dedicated exploration one day.

Balze del Malpasso, Castagnola, Toano, RE

Balze del Malpasso, Castagnola,Toano, RE

Balze del Malpasso, Castagnola, Toano, RE

Final stop was at the Sorgenti di Quara, a mineral water spring used since the middle ages. The water exits at a temperature of 24°.

Balze del Malpasso, Castagnola, Toano, RE

Sorgenti di Quara, Toano, RE

Last leg of the walk was the long haul back to Quara with a nice 260 meter climb.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Spring in the Apennines

Here spring has arrived with a heat wave. I decided on a walk in the mid Apennines were the spring colours are usually spectacular.

Below Croveglia, Casina,RE

Croveglia, Casina,RE

Starting from Mulino delle Noci, Carpinetti I took the “Sentiero Spallanzani” footpath which passes Cerpiano to arrive at Croveglia, a fifteenth century fortified farmhouse (“Casa a torre” ) perched high on a hilltop overlooking the Tresinaro.

Croveglia, Casina,RE

Carved column,Croveglia, Casina,RE

From Croveglia the path leads to Monte Pagano. From here one has a impressive view of Monte Cusna, still covered in snow at this time of year when looking south, whilst looking north a view of the lush green countryside around Giandeto.

Croveglia, Casina,RE

Monte Pagano, Casina,RE

Cusna seen from Monte Pagano, Casina,RE

Monte Pagano, Casina,RE

Looking North from Monte Pagano, Casina,RE

The path drops down to Giandeto and then onto Mattioli a fifteenth century Court. On this part of the walk the Cherry trees were in full bloom

Giandeto, Casina,RE

Court Mattioli, Giandeto, Casina,RE

Mattioli, Giandeto, Casina,RE

Bonini, Giandeto, Casina,RE

It was time for lunch by the time I arrived at Mulino del Tasso. Luckily the Trattoria was open so I had a nice plate of Tortellini.

I wanted to do a further section of the “Sentiero Spallanani” to arrive at Ca’ dei Pazzi a village who’s name translates to “House of the madmen”.

Reaching Ca dei Pazzi, it was now time to return. Taking the same path back to Mattioli I stopped to photograph the Tower House at Sorriva.

Sorriva, Viano, RE

From here I took a different route back connecting to the “Sentiro Matilde” at Canicchia. Here the rolling green hills rolling down to Casina were almost surreal.