Friday, October 23, 2015

Monte Roccerè


The mountain is located on the main watershed ridge between the Varaita valley and the Maira valley ; the summit is on the border between the municipalities of Melle (in the Varaita valley) and Roccabruna (in the Maira valley). [1]

metallic summit cross is placed on the top of the mountain .







Friday, September 11, 2015

Glenveagh National Park

 


The park covers 170 square kilometres of hillside above Glenveagh Castle on the shore of Lough Veagh (Loch Ghleann Bheatha), 20 km from Gweedore in County Donegal. The network of mainly informal gardens displays a multitude of exotic and delicate plants from as far afield as ChileMadeira and Tasmania, all sheltered by windbreaks of pine trees and ornamental rhododendrons.







Thursday, September 10, 2015

Errigal

 

Errigal[3] (IrishAn Earagail)[4] is a 751-metre (2,464 ft) mountain near Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland.[1] It is the tallest peak of the Derryveagh Mountains and the tallest peak in County Donegal.[1]







 The wind was really howling!



Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Tábhairne Leo

 


Leo's Tavern (IrishTábhairne Leo) is a restaurant and pub in the Donegal Gaeltacht, known as the home of music artists ClannadEnya and Moya Brennan.[1] The pub opened in 1968 and held Irish traditional music sessions nightly, becoming the musical starting block for the children of Leo Brennan, the pub's founder.[2]



Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Slieve League and Glencolmcille

 

Sliabh Liag, sometimes Slieve League or Slieve Liag (IrishSliabh Liag),[1] is a mountain on the Atlantic coast of County DonegalIreland. At 596 metres (1,955 ft), it has some of the highest sea cliffs on the island of Ireland.[2] Although less famous than the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Slieve League's cliffs reach almost three times higher.

This was my second visit to this place, the first time in 2010.  Stayed at a hostel nearby with access to an amazing beach.



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A remote beach at Glencolmcille.








Friday, August 21, 2015

Reggia di Valcasotto


The Royal Castle of Casotto , located in the municipality of Garessio ( CN ) on the slopes of Bric Mindino at an altitude of 1,090 m, was born in the 11th century as a charterhouse dedicated to San Brunone . [1] Over the centuries it suffered several looting and fires that changed its structure, the current layout of which was built between the 16th and 17th centuries. The gray stone facade was built in the mid-18th century, based on a project by the architect Bernardo Antonio Vittone .



Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Santuario di Vicoforte

 


The Santuario di Vicoforte , also known as the sanctuary of the Madonna , the basilica sanctuary of the Nativity of the Holy Mary or the Regina Montis Regalis sanctuary-basilica is a religious building located in the territory of the municipality of Vicoforte , in the province of Cuneo . It is a monumental church , one of the most important in Piedmont , whose dome with an elliptical horizontal section is the largest of this shape in the world. It has the dignity of a minor basilica [1] .





The tour involved a climb to the interior section of dome.






Sunday, July 26, 2015

La Langa del Barolo

Looking at Barolo from La Morra
The Langhe ( Langa in Piedmont ) is a historical region of Piedmont, located between the provinces of Cuneo and Asti, neighbor with other historical regions of Piedmont, namely the Monferrato and Roero and consists of a large hill system defined by the rivers Tanaro, Belbo, Bormida Millesimo and Bormida di Spigno.

As one can see from the photo, this is wine country.   Barolo is considered to be one of leading wines produced here.  Barolo wine is described as having a "Garnet red color with orange reflections, the nose is intense and persistent, or with assets olfactory exceptionally complex, which tends to favor, depending on the state of evolution, fruity and floral notes like violet and vanilla or tertiary notes such as tar and spices.  In the mouth, the components "hard" (acidity, tannins, salts ) are nicely balanced by the "soft" ( alcohols and sugar alcohols ), with an exceptional intensity and persistence that make Barolo wine powerful, elegant and full of personality."

I have been living in Cherasco about 20 minutes away Barolo.  I have to admit that I feel very fortunate to live in such a great place.
Towards Novello from La Morra

Castello dei Marchesi Falletti - Barolo

View of the Tanaro and the Lange in the distance from the terrace of my residence
What I enjoy the most here is the ability to walk down the country road passing through open spaces, groves of nocciola and vigneti, completely out of time with urbanity and out of step with pretention. This is a place not only rooted in tradition, but grounded in quality. 



Isole Borromee