I recently came
across a guide book to a place called: Sassi di Roccamalatina. Flicking through
the pages it seemed like an interesting place to while away a Sunday afternoon.
Especially as it seemed one could climb to the top of a mini mountain without
any effort.
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| 180° view of the Sassi di Raccamalatina, Vignola, MO |
Sometimes things
that go wrong at first turn out for ones advantage in the end. This was a case in point.
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
The park is not too
well signposted and I ended up in another part of the park some way away from
the place I wanted to visit. This meant a hike, which in turn meant putting on
my walking boots.
After a short hike
I arrived at the hamlet called Borgo dei
Sassi where one pays €3 to climb the rock.Ominously one has
to sign a waiver to release the park from any responsibility before entering. Strange
I thought to myself.
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| Not the first visitor |
Things start easily
enough, but then you turn a corner to find a long, well worn staircase carved out
of the rock.
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| Stairway to heaven, Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| A long way down,Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
Once at the top there
is another surprise. One must climb a ladder whose rungs are set into the rock
to reach the next level. Thank goodness I had to put on my walking boots and did
not come here wearing my town shoes as I had intended!
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| The Ladder, Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
More stairs and I finally
arrived at the inevitable cross that is to be found on the top of the lots of rocks
and mountains in Italy.
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| Borgo dei Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
This particular
rock was once a Byzantine fort and there are several caves have been carved out
of the rock. The view from the top is splendid even on the misty day I had.
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
Returning to the
car I took the road that runs below the rock to get a good view of the complex.
At a certain point the Asphalt ends and one finds oneself on what is called a “White
road” in Italy. The road is a gravel track with lots of potholes and stones,
but good fun to drive on if you take care.
I soon found myself
right below the rocks and could faintly see the cross where I had been before.
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
Continuing along I
was presented with lots of other nice views of the rock.
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
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| Sassi di Rocamalatina, Vignola, MO |
This Regional Park
is a wonderful area of the mid Apennines and I think I will return here again
on a clear day in Autumn or Spring.
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