A day trip to the South Tyrol.

Last sunday I went to a day trip to the South Tyrol with several people of my age. I was at school with most of them.

A coach with driver was rent for this journey.

Our first stop was for a good breakfast with bread filled with cold cuts or cheese and various cakes. Names; Alba, Miriam and Elsa.

We visited Castel Coira. This castle was built around 1250 and modified through the centuries.

Unfortunately pictures are not allowed inside the castle.

We could take pics only in the courtyard.

Elena. We haven' t met for forty years! She lived near my house and left my village when she was twelve years old.

Here' s another pic taken at the castle. Names; Ennio, Ambra, Franco and Doris.

After our visit to the castle we headed to Glorenza (Glurns in German). Before the visit to this nice walled town we had lunch at a typical restaurant.

Here you see the group. We were 24. This nice pic (on the stairs of the restaurant) was taken by our driver.

I was attracted by these poppies in the main square of Glorenza.

It was lunch time for this black creature.

Via dei Portici (in English; Porticoes Street). Names; Ambra, Patrizia, Miriam and Lucia.

Another pic taken in via dei Portici.

After the visit to Glorenza we went to the lake of Resia. As you see there is an ancient bell tower in this lake. This was due to the building of a dam in the 1950. Three villages were submerged for this reason. Names; Elena, Marco, Ambra, Claudio, Patrizia, Gloria, Lucia and Luciana.

 

It was really a very good trip with a good party. 

Back to Bergamo. Day trips (one of these was a half day trip...)

I spent a afternoon in Milan to meet my "old" friend Vittorio. Her took me to several spots in the city. We strolled along via Montenapoleone. A street lined with very expensive shops; to the Duomo (cathedral) and to several areas of Milan.

This is Vittorio Emanuele gallery. There is a picture with a bull on its pavement. They say if you put your feet on its balls and turn round it brings good luck .

Here you see the picture of the bull.

We found some odd things in Milano. Here is one of them. A London telephone booth.

Here is another odd thing! Vittorio let me noticed that these glasses have legs.

The half day trip in Milan was nice, but quite tiring. We walked a lot.

I almost missed my train to Bergamo. We spent some time at a bookstore inside a train station. I had to wait some time for my train to come. Here you se Vittorio with a fake salami.

I had a nice day trip to the lake of Como. I visited Varenna.

Varenna is one of the village on the lake of Como. It has a nice promenade overlooking the lake.

This village is made of an area by the lake and an upper one. Various flights of stairs link these two areas.

One of the main sights in Varenna are the gardens of Villa Monastero.

You can enjoy a beautiful landscape over the lake form these gardens.

The mansion; Villa Monastero dates between the XIX an the XX centuries. It was a monastery before its rebuilding.

Here you see one of the rooms of that mansion. I took some other pics inside the building, but they did not turned out; unfortunately.

 


This is a gondola lariana; a typical old boat. Now it is put to rest in a small garden in Varenna.

Back to Bergamo.

Bergamo is around an hour from Milan by train. It is a city divided in two areas. Lower Bergamo (Bergamo bassa) and upper Bergamo (Bergamo alta).

Bergamo alta is the old core of the city. It is the area where I spend most of my time when I am there. You see part of the main square of upper Bergamo in this pic; piazza Vecchia.

  


Piazza Vecchia is overlooked by the Campanone; an ancient tower. Once you get to its top you can enjoy a beautiful lanscape over various parts of the city.

 

Lots of things can attract visitors in Bergamo alta; even various old knockdoors.

 

Here you see what a street in Bergamo alta looks like. Pavement is ancient, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

There are several viewpoints from Bergamo alta; included the Rocca and its park. The Rocca is a ancient fortress. Here' s a pic taken from the Rocca.

 

Another pic taken from the Rocca.

This is my favourite shop in Bergamo alta. The Tresoldi bakery.

You shouldn 't miss this local delicacy if you visit Bergamo: the casoncelli. It is a stuffed pasta (noddles). You can find you almost everywhere in the city.

   

Here' s my favourite kind of dinner when I travel. The "happy hour". It is simply a cold drink and lots of nibbles; chips, vegetables, pizza et al. I like to have it at Vox restaurant in Bergamo bassa.

....To be continued....