I managed to take a day off work last Friday
to go hiking in the Apennines. I chose one of my favourite walks that starts at
Lago Santo Modenese and finishes at Lago Nero in Tuscany.
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| Lago Santo, MO |
I was blessed with a nice if hot day for
this hike.
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| Lago Santo, MO |
After having breakfast on the shore of Lago Santo in the early morning light I headed up to Lago Baccio one of the most spectacular lakes in the Tosco Emilian Apennines.
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| Lago Baccio, MO |
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| Lago Baccio, MO |
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| Lago Baccio, MO |
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| Lago Baccio, MO |
I then trudged slowly up to the “Finestra
del Rondinaio” before descending rapidly down to Lago Turchino a small lake
that unlike many others does not dry up in summer. The best bit about arriving
at this lake is stopping to drink at spring that gushes nice cold water; very
welcome on a hot day.
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| Finestra del Rondinaio, MO |
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| Finestra del Rondinaio, MO |
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| Finestra del Rondinaio, MO. Looking towards Tuscany |
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| Sempervivum arachnoideum |
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| Largo Turchino, MO |
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| Largo Turchino, MO |
The lake full of tadpoles also had another more
interesting inhabitant: a water snake that I saw swimming through the lake.
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| Borra al Fosso, MO |
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| Borra al Fosso, MO |
The next stop was Passo Giovo where the Via
Ducale passes from Emilia to Tuscany. This road which is not used for the
passage of traffic has an interesting story.
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| Foce Giovo, MO |
In 1818 Maria Luisa of Bourbon, Duchess of Lucca and Francis IV, Duke of Modena, who were destined for an arranged marriage, wanted to accomplish a way to pass the Apennines, with a direct connection between Modena and Lucca without having to pass the Customs of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
The works lasted from 1819 until 1829, when it was inaugurated by the Duke and the Duchess, who met for the first time at the Foce Giovo; it is said that the Duchess, after returning Lucca said that she had been "in the upper snows," referring to the white hair of the Duke of Modena; who came to hear about the comment replying "when it snows in the mountains, it is better that the cows descend from the mountains." After building the torturous road up and over the mountains to enable the meeting, the marriage was not to be, surly the costliest blind date ever.
The next point of reference was the Passo di Annibale
where legend has it that Hannibal passed during his invasion of Italy.
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| Passo di Annibale,MO |
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| Lago Piatto, MO |
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| Femmina Morta, MO |
Finally, I arrived at Lago Nero with its rare Alpine
Newts and panoramic views.
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| Lago Nero, PT |
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| Lago Nero, PT |
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| Lago Nero, PT |
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| Lago Nero, PT |
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| Alpine Newts, Lago Nero, PT |
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| Lago Nero, PT |
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| Lago Nero, PT |
Now all that remained to be done was to retrace my steps
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