Lecco

We drove 2 hours from Biella to Lecco, or specifically Carenno, and to the home of our new friends the Raso family. Its a long story but a chance encounter with Mariapia (yes the restaurant owner) in Wellington led us to the home of Beppe Raso, his wife Delia and two daughters Martina and Margarita.....oh and of course their dog Flash!

Carenno is in the mountains and the very narrow and winding road put Nadine's nerves on edge, particularly when a local came screaming down the hill on what seemed our side of the road and sometimes it just didn't seem possible that two cars could fit on the road. We made it through in one piece and no scratches - except for those on the hand rest caused by Nadine's fingernails.



Lecco & Lake Como



The hillside village of Carenno

It was a little overcast when we arrived and the temperature was about 10 degrees colder than Biella and took a little adjusting to and involved more layers of clothing. We had a wonderful dinner with Delia, Martina, Margarita and Anya (german friend of Martina complete with irish accent) and were so warmly welcomed into the family that we instantly felt a part of the family. Watch out because we may never want to leave this sanctuary.

On Wednesday Martina took time out from her studies to take us and Anya to the city of Bergamo about 1 hr drive from Lecco. There are two parts of Bergamo - the citti alta (upper) and the citti base (lower). We went up to the citti alta which was surrounded by a massive fortressed wall around the entire city. We walked around this and the lovely little cobbled streets of Bergamo, had the most amazing pizza for lunch in the central piazza in the sun. Bliss.



Truely the best pizza in the world

   

Anya and Martina


Bergamo has three of the most amazing churches (all next to each other) that we have seen throughout Europe. The size, sculptures and detail in the churches is mind blowing.



One of the 3 Bergamo churches



Bergamo church


We took the cable car up even further and found a lovely park ontop of the fortressed wall and admired the view over the city, abeit it was masked a bit by the fog.



Bergamo citie basse

The day was so relaxed and wonderful that we felt compelled to get a momento to take home, and bought a little painting of the central piazza from a local painter.

The perfect day ended with another delicious dinner lovingly provided by Delia. Delia is an architect by training and teaches architectural type drawing at two secondary schools in the Lecco region. Martina and Margarita are both studying at university, one policitical science and the other art, and both speak very good English.

On Thursday we languished about for half the day with 'the girls', enjoyed the sun, played with Flash and Martina and Margarita translated a letter into Italiano for David to take to Tresivio in his search for his family.

Photos of the day:


Swan plant



Bergamo citti through fence