Saturday, June 22, 2013

Piacenza



This week I had the opportunity of a morning  to explore Piacenza whilst my wife had work to do here.

Piacenza
Piacenza is a typical industrial Emilian city along the Via Emilia, in the Italian Po Valley. It is not famous for its monuments or for anything else really, it is just the last Emilian city before Lombardy.

The first place I came across after  starting my walk was the Basilica di Sant’ Antonio. Inside it is dominated by its massive pillars, whilst outside I enjoyed the peaceful Cloisters.
Basilica di Sant' Antonio, Piacenza

Basilica di Sant' Antonio, Piacenza

Basilica di Sant' Antonio, Piacenza

Basilica di Sant' Antonio, Piacenza

Basilica di Sant' Antonio, Piacenza

Piacenza’s most famous monument is the Palazzo Gothico in the main square built in 1281. The brickwork is impressive. 
Palazzo Gothico, Piacenza

Piazza Duomo, Piacenza

Duomo, Piacenza

Duomo, Piacenza

Duomo, Piacenza
 
I then went towards the River Po, where I came across Palazzo Farnese, the imposing unfinished Ducal palace which gives the illusion of being much  bigger  than it really is.

Palazzo Farnes, Piacenza

Palazzo Farnes, Piacenza
 
What I found most interesting  was the quantity of  often slightly decaying palaces in the city. As in other Italian cities the facades of these big houses often conceal pleasant internal gardens.

Palazzo Scotti di Sarmato, Piacenza

Palazzo Scotti di Sarmato, Piacenza

Palazzo Scotti di Sarmato, Piacenza

Palazzo Scotti di Sarmato, Piacenza

Palazzo Scotti di Sarmato, Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza
 In the end I spent a very pleasant morning in Piacenza with its many small architectural treasures. I was quite disappointed when my wife phoned me to tel me that she had finished.

Galleria Oddi, Piacenza

Galleria Oddi, Piacenza

Galleria Oddi, Piacenza


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Three Apeninne Lakes



The call of the mountains was just too strong this week. Thursday was forecasted as being a nice day, so I decided work could wait  for a day.

I decided to do an area of the Cento Laghi park next to the Lagastrello Pass.

Leaving the car half way up the road that leads to Prato Spilla(PR) I took the forest road that leads up to Lago Verdarolo . The lake takes its name from the green colour caused by the reflection of the trees all around the lake.
Lago Verdarolo, Prato Spilla, PR
Next stop was Lago Scuro.  This lake dries up in the summer to reveal  fossilised tree trucks on its bed.
When I got there, the lake was still full of water. This small lake is a magical place. I stopped to watch the Crested Newts swimming amongst the submerged grass. 
Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Scura, Prato Spilla, PR

Now it was time to push onwards and upwards to the “Crinale” . The poorly marked path rises very steeply from the lake 300 Metres to  Passo Sasseda  and then to Monte Malpasso ( pass badly in English).
All of a sudden one emerges from the forest to find oneself on a narrow crest. The day was misty, but on a clear day the view must be fantastic.  The alpine flowers are now in full bloom and this year’s grass in beginning to grow.

Monte Malpasso, Passo Lagastrello,MC

Monte Malpasso, Passo Lagastrello,MC

Monte Malpasso, Passo Lagastrello,MC

Viola Calcarata, Monte Malpasso, Passo Lagastrello,MC


After following the narrow crest I took  the footpath along a crest leading to Lago Palo. With lake Palo far below, how will the footpath down to the lake be i thought.  Then it became evident. A gap in the crest
Revealed a footpath dropping down steeply  down to the lake.

Lago Palo, Prato Spilla, PR

Down to Lago Palo, Prato Spilla, PR

Lago Palo, Prato Spilla PR
To close the circle I dropped down to Prato Spilla and then back up a recently maintained footpath back up to lake Verdarolo and down to the car.

Lago Palo, Prato Spilla PR

Lago Palo, Prato Spilla PR

Lago Palo, Prato Spilla PR
The weather was not as good as I expected, but I had a nice stress free day.

It was my first all day hike with my new camera system. Especially on the climb up to Monte Malpasso  the weight reduction of  this new kit was appreciated. With the low cost of “last years”  4/3 cameras it also becomes feasible to have a body for each of the 3 lenses I carry, reducing the risk of getting dust on the sensor whilst changing lenses on a windy mountain.