Copyright © Louise Bostock 2007-2013. Please give credit where credit is due.

Saturday 5 February 2011

Bel vedere

Warm and sunny. Tree cutting and rose pruning. Outdoor lunching. Spotted the first butterfly of the year, in exactly the same place as last year's first butterfly...there's a zoology thesis in there somewhere.


The tiny piazza beside Carmine Superiore's San Gottardo church offers a magnificent view of Lago Maggiore, the coast of Lombardy and the Swiss Alps. It can't be missed - after all, Carmine has only four 'streets', if you could call them that. 

This viewpoint is famous, and obvious, although I'm always amazed at the number of walkers who shoot straight through the village without locating either frescoes or panorama.

A not-quite-so-famous viewpoint takes in not only the lake and sights beyond, but also the village itself, with its stone roofs and pretty gardens. My neighbour, G., has made a sign so that you can't miss it...


From here, the great spur of rock on which Carmine is built becomes visible. And from here you get a real sense of why, more than 1,000 years ago someone put his hands on his hips, squinted his eyes against the sun and saw that this would be a good place to build a fortress.

Definitely worth the short climb.


3 comments:

That Janie Girl said...

I love your pictures and descriptions.

choirgirl said...

Oh the penny has dropped - Bel Vedere = Belvedere! I always thought it was one word!

Louise | Italy said...

Yes, it's one word - you're right (as ever)

Saturday 5 February 2011

Bel vedere

Warm and sunny. Tree cutting and rose pruning. Outdoor lunching. Spotted the first butterfly of the year, in exactly the same place as last year's first butterfly...there's a zoology thesis in there somewhere.


The tiny piazza beside Carmine Superiore's San Gottardo church offers a magnificent view of Lago Maggiore, the coast of Lombardy and the Swiss Alps. It can't be missed - after all, Carmine has only four 'streets', if you could call them that. 

This viewpoint is famous, and obvious, although I'm always amazed at the number of walkers who shoot straight through the village without locating either frescoes or panorama.

A not-quite-so-famous viewpoint takes in not only the lake and sights beyond, but also the village itself, with its stone roofs and pretty gardens. My neighbour, G., has made a sign so that you can't miss it...


From here, the great spur of rock on which Carmine is built becomes visible. And from here you get a real sense of why, more than 1,000 years ago someone put his hands on his hips, squinted his eyes against the sun and saw that this would be a good place to build a fortress.

Definitely worth the short climb.


3 comments:

That Janie Girl said...

I love your pictures and descriptions.

choirgirl said...

Oh the penny has dropped - Bel Vedere = Belvedere! I always thought it was one word!

Louise | Italy said...

Yes, it's one word - you're right (as ever)