Strange Rocking at Taviano

Last Sunday promised to be a nice afternoon so I decided to do a short hike to the place I have baptised as the “Stone Footballs”.

Start of the walk at Taviano, RE

They are known here locally as the “Mammelloni” or translated: “the breasts”. I had a chat with one of the locals who talked about a part of the formation called “the bum cheeks”.

Taviano, RE

Frozen stream above Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

 I have already visited this curious place near Taviano in the upper Enza valley, but I decided a repeat visit with my full camera kit to get some better pictures in a nicer light than last time with the little compact camera I sometimes carry.

I left the car a Taviano near Ramiseto and took the “Sentiero Ducale” that passes this strange geological formation on its way to the “Pizzoni” and the village of Cereggio.

After passing through fields, the footpath arrives under the mountain. Here the fun starts. The footpath crosses a narrow ledge with a shear drop on one side. There was ice around so I was super careful on this part. Then the path crosses a couple of little streams which luckily were free of ice in the right places before the last climb up along another ledge.

Taviano, RE

The narrow ledge. Taviano, RE

Climbing up with the ledge in the background,Taviano, RE

 

The strange rock formations make this a strange desolate place, especially in winter. The misty conditions added to the atmosphere.

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

The formations are caused by the variable erosion of the mostly very soft sandy rocks, leaving the harder parts exposed.

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

Taviano, RE

 I managed to arrive at the most impressive part of the formation just as the sun disappeared behind a mountain. So, another visit is definitely on the cards a bit further on in the year to photograph that part.