NIGEL'S RAMBLES: Between Bad Weather

Monday, February 10, 2014

Between Bad Weather

It has been raining here almost continuously for a month now. On the couple of afternoons that I have been able to get out and up into the mountains, I have been exploring the area around the Pietra di Brismantova near Reggio Emilia.

The first Saturday I found the remains of a heavy snowfall that disappeared within a couple of days.

Spignana, RE

La Villa, Poiano, RE

Pietra di Brismantova

I returned the next Sunday to explore the abandoned “Borgo” of Castello di Volgono perched on the ridge above the Secchia Valley.

Fist I climbed up to the summit of a little hill marked on the map as Castello. The castle had long since disappeared with just a few fragments of the walls remaining here and there amongst the trees. The view looking down to the valley is quite spectacular.

Castello di Volgono, RE

I then explored the abandoned hamlet with its crumbling buildings covered in brambles. How long will it be before this little settlement is reabsorbed into the landscape like the castle above ?

Castello di Volgono, RE

Dropping down into the Secchia valley I caught the last sunlight filtering through the mountains that had illuminated a group of trees just like a spotlight. One of those momentary plays of light that one often sees in the winter with the sun low in the sky.

Mulino di Volgono, RE

Returning home by car, a wrong turning took me to the Village of Minozzo , Here I found the remains of a castle perched on the top of a volcanic Basalt outcrop. The way the walls had been built around the basalt was quite strange. It is a pity that the restoration of the castle remains has been a bit heavy handed.