NIGEL'S RAMBLES

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Bianello and Montechiarugolo

I worked in Quattro Castella for nearly fourteen years and climbed up to Bianello Castle during my lunch break many times, but I had never got around to visiting the inside until last Sunday after the habitual climb from the village.

Bianello, Quattro Castello, RE

Bianello is one of four castles that gives its name to the village. If you approach the village from the north one sees the four castles that seem like four firm breasts emerging from the landscape with a castle on each in place of the nipples.

Bianello, Quattro Castello, RE

Three of the castles are reduced to ruins, but Bianello is intact and was a private residence until 2002.

Bianello was the home of the Medieval Lombard Queen Matilda who acquired it in the tenth century and it remained in the family until the Eighteenth century.

Bianello, Quattro Castello, RE

The castle has been much altered over the years and it is not possible to visit the oldest part which is the square stone tower. It was much more interesting than I expected with some interesting frescoes and a ninetieth century games room.

Bianello, Quattro Castello, RE

I still had some time and so I decided to visit the nearby castle of Montechiarugolo and managed to catch the last visit.

Montechiarugolo,PR

This castle is a massive structure with imposing walls behind a deep dry moat. It is a typical Emilian castle with the typical “Merlatura” that defines these structures. The castle was built in the fifteenth century for Guido Torelli a condottiero or mercenary to use the modern equivalent. As often happend at this time in Italy, things ended badly for the Torelli’s with the Lord losing his head, thanks to the Farnese, Duke of Parma who wanted to get his hands on the property.

Montechiarugolo,PR

Like Bianello it seems from the outside far bigger than it is inside with a large central courtyard.

The castle is still a private residence and only a few rooms and the splendid terrace that overlooks the Enza Valley can be visited. The last room one visits is the most impressive with a splendid frescoed ceiling.

Montechiarugolo,PR

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Montechiarugolo,PR

So in one go I managed to see two places that I have been meaning to visit for ages. Not as breathtaking as Torrechiara, but well worth a visit.

Here is a link to the Castles, only in Italian I am afraid.

http://www.bianello.it/il-castello.html

http://www.castellodimontechiarugolo.it/

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Wolves in Valle dell' Inferno

One of the most suggestive places in the “ Appennino Reggiano” is the “Valle dell’ Inferno” or translated Hell Valley. This glacial circus is actually just over the border in Tuscany and despite its name it is quite accessible for an enjoyable but strenuous afternoon hike.

Valle Dell' Inferno, Sassablo, MC

In the high Apennines there is still the last of the winter snow, and without snow shoes the going is quite difficult and one has to be careful as in some places the snow gives way and one sinks into the snow.

Valle Dell' Inferno, Sassablo, MC

The footpath is quite easy and level to start with until the Moraine is reached, and then the climb especially with the snow is quite difficult and challenging.

When I reached the top I saw that some other visitors had passed by recently. In the snow some wolves had left their footprints, the first time I have seen evidence of these shy creatures in the Apennines.

Wolf footprints,Valle Dell' Inferno, Sassablo, MC

When I reached the vast amphitheatre the sense of absolute silence and tranquillity after a tiring hard climb was a just reward for the effort but the atmosphere was impossible to capture in the photographs I took.

Valle Dell' Inferno, Sassablo, MC

It was time to go and fortunate going down was much easier and took half the time I had taken to climb up.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Monte Cavalbianco

For “Pasquetta” or Easter Monday, in Italy it is traditional that one gets out of the house for a trip to some place or other.

To comply with this tradition I decided to catch the last of the snow up in the Apennines. My destination was Monte Cavalbianco on the Praderena Pass between Emilia and Tuscany.

Monte Cavalbianco, RE

Under normal conditions it is an easy little hike taking about 45minutes to get to the top, but with snow it was a lot more hard going and I decided to stop half way up as I was not too well equipped for the snow.