Cigarello to Valcava

Valcava, Carpineti RE

My latest walk was from Cigarello, Carpineti  to Valcava and back via Pantano. On the map this looks easy, but  one climbs, descends and then has to face another stiff climb to Valcava before descending back down to Cigarello. Valcava and Cigarello have a 200m height difference .

Rio Fontanello, Pantano, Carpineti RE

The first part goes though some fairly wild country, skirting round some calanchi (badlands), then along the side of a deep gorge to Croveglia, then through some woods to Velcava.

Rio Fontanello, Pantano, Carpineti RE

Rio Fontanello, Pantano, Carpineti RE

Rio Fontanello, Pantano, Carpineti RE

Rio Fontanello, Croveglia, Carpineti RE

At Valcava  the landscape changes dramatically to a gentle green countryside with scattered hamlets that reminds  me of the Cotswolds, also there is a fantastic view of the Apennines from here. The strong fresh spring colours made this part of the walk most enjoyable.

Valcava, Carpineti RE



Valcava, Carpineti RE



Casa Torre, Valcava, Carpineti RE

Valcava, Carpineti RE

Valcava, Carpineti RE

Pantano, Carpineti RE

Valcava, Carpineti RE

Pantano, Carpineti RE

Giavello, Carpineti RE

Giavello, Carpineti RE

Spring comes to Bianello

Spring just seems to have exploded upon us this year. In just one week the colours of the countryside here have changed.

Bianello park in Quattro Castella RE is just one mass of  vivid green.



Bianello nature reserve,  Quattro Castella RE



Bianello nature reserve,  Quattro Castella RE

Bianello nature reserve,  Quattro Castella RE

Bianello nature reserve,  Quattro Castella RE

Vercallo RE

Bergogno,RE

Bergogno,RE

Still Winter in the Apennines

It’s March and there is still snow on the ground in the higher foothills above 400 meters.  Still I came across some spectaculars  views  between Gombio  and  Felina near Castelnouvo Monti RE.



Mount Cusna and Pietra di Brismantova from Soraggio RE

Coriano RE



Coriano RE



Savognatica, Carpineti RE





Gombio, Castelnovo Ne Monti, RE



I have been exploring  the Apennines around Carpineti which is full of Case Torre ( There were 90 at one time in the Comune of Carpineti). Over the ridge from Carpineti castle there is some wild countryside which I intend to explore on foot when the snow has gone and when  its much less muddy.  The clay soil here just leaves the water on the surface.



Gatta, Carpinetti RE

Gatta, Carpinetti RE



Palazzo dei Gatti, Gatta, Carpinetti RE
Gatto means cat in Italian



Cigarello, Carpineti RE



Ca' de Berretti, Carpineti RE



Sorchio, Carpineti, RE



Sorchio, Carpineti, RE



Sorchio. Detail of affresco



Riana, Carpineti



Riana, Carpineti, RE



Saccheggiana, Carpineti, RE

 

Saccheggiana, Carpineti, RE



Saccheggiana, Carpineti, RE



Saccheggiana, Carpineti, RE



Empty shell of a Casa Torre. Saccaggio, Carpineti, RE

 

Grassano, San Polo d' Enza, RE 

 

Grassano, San Polo d' Enza, RE 



Gombio, Castelnovo Ne Monti, RE



Gombio, RE





Gombio, Castelnovo Ne Monti, RE





Gombio, Castelnovo Ne Monti, RE





Gombio, Castelnovo Ne Monti, RE



Vesallo, Carpineti, RE



 Corte, Vasallo, Carpineti, RE