AUROGNA is the Medieval frazione that belongs to Trezzone – the comune behind and above Gera Lario which sits directly on Lake Como. Trezzone encompasses a few frazione along the road leading to Aurogna. The total population of the area was 212 people at the time of this narration. Perched at 430 meters above LakeContinue reading “AUROGNA! Medieval frazione of Trezzone!”
Author Archives: Virginia Merlini
MADONNA DEL OMBRE
Museo Nazionale San Marco, Florence Located on the wall of the East Corridor on the upper floor of the Dominican convent between cells 25 and 26 and painted in the mid 15th-century by Fra Angelico (1395-1455), the Madonna del Ombre – Madonna of the Shadows – is a particularly interesting work that showcases the exceptionalContinue reading “MADONNA DEL OMBRE”
CASPANO – the frescoes of an ancient Paravicini family villa
THIS IS AN UPDATE ON THIS POST: The fresco which I identified as a possible Trinità Trifronte – a three-faced Trinity is actually a Trinity of the newer type where God the Father is pictured with a crucified Jesus and the Holy Spirit represented as a dove. I was able to return to Caspano andContinue reading “CASPANO – the frescoes of an ancient Paravicini family villa”
MONTEMEZZO – from Selva to Dalco & Montalto
It was a gorgeous early March day for a walk in the AltoLario from Selva – where the fabulous frescoes of Aurelio Luini are found in the Chiesa di San Martino – up to Montemezzo and the località Montagnola, Dalco, and Montalto. Walking allows one to look for frescoes on old houses that can beContinue reading “MONTEMEZZO – from Selva to Dalco & Montalto”
PELEDO – Località of Sorico
Peledo is a tiny località of Sorico. It is about 2 kilometers outside of Bugiallo and about 750 meters above Lake Como. There are no year-round inhabitants and the cluster of small, ancient stone homes is embraced by forest and privileged with cool airs in summer. Most of the houses are tiny – likely havingContinue reading “PELEDO – Località of Sorico”
DOORS OF MELLO
DOORS OF STRADA PROVINCIALE 6 – Walking to Mello! A walk to Mello starts in Traona on the valley floor, meanders through the Contrada of Coffedo and continues along the via Provinciale – SP6 crossing the borders between frazione as they trace their confines across the face of the mountain. On Sunday I walked fromContinue reading “DOORS OF MELLO”
MUSSO – Marble & Mercenaries
MUSSO! I have not spent much time looking for Wall Madonna’s in lakeside towns. Musso – a brief 20-minute drive – offered a number of old frazioni and a long road into the mountains that, in the distant past, hosted year-round settlements – the most likely sources of frescoes as opposed to summer ‘baite’ whereContinue reading “MUSSO – Marble & Mercenaries”
TRAONA – via per Traona – the old mulattiera to Cercino
It has been was sunny and cool lately – gorgeous days in the Valtellina. I have wanted to walk the four lateral roads that connect the mountain towns of Cercino and Traona. Two of the roads are unnamed and three are mostly unpaved. Only one can be called a modern, asphalted carriage road. This isContinue reading “TRAONA – via per Traona – the old mulattiera to Cercino”
ALPRATO – Localita’ of Forcola
Forcola is a comune that encompasses a number of municipalities on the Orobic side of the Valtellina. The nucleus of the area is the villages of Sirta and Selvetta – both on the plain of the Adda River. The comune stretches into the mountains and occupies the area between Val Tartano and Val Madre. BesidesContinue reading “ALPRATO – Localita’ of Forcola”
MURANO – the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato
As I work on my Wall Madonna photos and their accompanying narrations, I am missing Venice and her beautiful islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. My last visit to the lagoon was during the pandemic when Venice was empty of tourists – really! – and very affordable. The city was so affordable that I stayedContinue reading “MURANO – the Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato”
Wall Madonna's of the Valtellina 