Sept. 5, 2012
Once breakfast and our wasp project was underway it was time to plan our activity for the day.
We thought about a bike ride, but it is very mountainous and the flat route along the lake is too heavily traveled by tourists in cars. So, no bike ride today.
Across the valley to the north we can see another village and a pretty church out on the point overlooking the lake. We decided to take a drive over there to visit the church, the Sanctuary of Montecastellano, a well-known monastery and pilgrimage stop.
Although Trexie took us up the mountain on a narrow back road of switchbacks and potholes we decided to go back down the hill through the town. Steep, steep, steep and narrow, we followed the cobblestoned road weaving through the little, ancient town, past the church, almost scraping the corner of the building with our rear-view mirror. Out the downhill side of the town and into a leafy, green canyon, over the stream and up, up, up the north side of the canyon, through the town of Gardola and on up the road.
At the top of the road is the capella. We parked the car and took the hike up to the top, stopping at small grottos along the route to decipher the frescos, each which tells one of the many famous events in the life of Jesus.
At the top of the paved route on a rock overlooking the lake, and with a magnificent view, sits the Sanctuary of Montecastellano. It is one of the most holy and spiritual places of Garda, famous for its history and beauty. For centuries it has been a place of pilgrimage and devotion.
The history of the Sanctuary of Montecastello, perched on a overhanging rock(700 meters high) on Lake Garda, is linked to the memory of a "Star". In the thirteenth century, during a violent battle between Brescia’s and Trento’s people, a light beam emerged from the castle, a site of a small temple dedicated to Mary, and paralyzed Trento’s people, allowing those from Brescia to win the battle. The inhabitants of Tignale witnessed Mary's presence on the mountain in the form of a bright Star, so the name of this Madonna is "Madonna della Stella."
Inside the Church is a gilded wood major altar and a glass window,
behind which we see the miraculous image of Madonna painted by an unknown 14th century artist, picturing Mary kneeling in a suppliant and humble
attitude while being crowned by Christ. The fresco is surrounded by four
medallions in Palma copper, representing the Presentation in the
Temple, The Annunciation, the Birth of Jesus, the visit of the three
Wise Men. The famous star is represented in the apex of the narthex dome.
The rock that the church sits upon juts out dramatically over the lake, descending straight down 700 meters. The views are especially stunning in this region of stunning views.
The trail actually continues up the mountain to the top of Monte Cas, but we decided to go down the hill and try to find some internet access as we have not been able to get online in Piovere.
We did find the bar, which also offers interne,t and bought a couple of beers while we arranged a place to stay near Venice, our next destination.
Back to our comfy house in Piovere, we had a bite to eat and I, again, retreated to my own sanctuary on the deck and watched the sailboats and kiteboarders play while I listened to my story and played Monopoly and Don downloaded his photos and played with his computer.
The yellowjacket count is now 12.
The next morning the air was quite hazy and the weather was cool. We decided to just hang out at the house and enjoy the serenity. Our house is quite comfortable with a good bed, a little, well-equipped kitchen and a nice sitting room. There is also a small kids room with a bunk/trundle bed to sleep 3 kids. But, for me, the star of the property is the spacious deck overlooking the lake and a small garden.
We lazed and lolled our day away, discussing our plans for visiting Venice and napping and restoring ourselves. There are lots of good hikes to do, and some mountain biking trails, and beaches at the lake, and restaurants and tourist shopping to do, but for us, just hanging out at the house was great.
.
Across the valley to the north we can see another village and a pretty church out on the point overlooking the lake. We decided to take a drive over there to visit the church, the Sanctuary of Montecastellano, a well-known monastery and pilgrimage stop.
Although Trexie took us up the mountain on a narrow back road of switchbacks and potholes we decided to go back down the hill through the town. Steep, steep, steep and narrow, we followed the cobblestoned road weaving through the little, ancient town, past the church, almost scraping the corner of the building with our rear-view mirror. Out the downhill side of the town and into a leafy, green canyon, over the stream and up, up, up the north side of the canyon, through the town of Gardola and on up the road.
At the top of the road is the capella. We parked the car and took the hike up to the top, stopping at small grottos along the route to decipher the frescos, each which tells one of the many famous events in the life of Jesus.
At the top of the paved route on a rock overlooking the lake, and with a magnificent view, sits the Sanctuary of Montecastellano. It is one of the most holy and spiritual places of Garda, famous for its history and beauty. For centuries it has been a place of pilgrimage and devotion.
The history of the Sanctuary of Montecastello, perched on a overhanging rock(700 meters high) on Lake Garda, is linked to the memory of a "Star". In the thirteenth century, during a violent battle between Brescia’s and Trento’s people, a light beam emerged from the castle, a site of a small temple dedicated to Mary, and paralyzed Trento’s people, allowing those from Brescia to win the battle. The inhabitants of Tignale witnessed Mary's presence on the mountain in the form of a bright Star, so the name of this Madonna is "Madonna della Stella."
The rock that the church sits upon juts out dramatically over the lake, descending straight down 700 meters. The views are especially stunning in this region of stunning views.
The trail actually continues up the mountain to the top of Monte Cas, but we decided to go down the hill and try to find some internet access as we have not been able to get online in Piovere.
We did find the bar, which also offers interne,t and bought a couple of beers while we arranged a place to stay near Venice, our next destination.
Back to our comfy house in Piovere, we had a bite to eat and I, again, retreated to my own sanctuary on the deck and watched the sailboats and kiteboarders play while I listened to my story and played Monopoly and Don downloaded his photos and played with his computer.
The yellowjacket count is now 12.
The next morning the air was quite hazy and the weather was cool. We decided to just hang out at the house and enjoy the serenity. Our house is quite comfortable with a good bed, a little, well-equipped kitchen and a nice sitting room. There is also a small kids room with a bunk/trundle bed to sleep 3 kids. But, for me, the star of the property is the spacious deck overlooking the lake and a small garden.
We lazed and lolled our day away, discussing our plans for visiting Venice and napping and restoring ourselves. There are lots of good hikes to do, and some mountain biking trails, and beaches at the lake, and restaurants and tourist shopping to do, but for us, just hanging out at the house was great.
.
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