That of St. Anthony is primarily, a religious feast that unfolds over two days of celebration. The celebrations will be held as usual in the Church which stands in Piazza della Motta, dedicated to St. Anthony as "the Sant'Antoni purscell" hermit and abbot, patron of animals and "marriageable girls. The program, liturgy and celebration, expected on Saturday 16 January with a blessing of votive candles and the burning of S. Antonio in the presence of city authorities. And for Sunday, January 17th, which is the day of the Feast of St. Anthony, a Solemn Mass presided by the Cardinal. At its conclusion, traditional blessing of animals, with a launch of balloons with notes written by children. The feast of St. Anthony is also made, for example, from sandwiches with salami of the urchins of Motta, the organizers of the festival, which this year will be next to the church of St. Anthony Motta (among other things recently restored) for all two days of the festival, "with the most delicious sandwich that there is" a political price. But it is also one of the most requested and popular markets of the winter, open throughout the weekend: where we always make four steps, we discover new and curiosity eat pancakes. And this year, among other things, Via Carrobbio, one that directly accesses the bonfire from Piazza Monte Grappa, will be "invaded" by high-quality products, manufactured and sold directly by producers in Varese or selected by the producer and producers of cheese and cold cuts of goat and cow and honey, as well as preserves and sweets in addition to rice and Novara snails, fruit and vegetables from Alessandria, salami and cheese from Brescia, mushrooms and truffles from Cassano d'Adda, Tuscan wines and olive Molise, all in direct production. To prepare special meals for the road versions will think "outside" of King Charles, the bar Rossofuoco, the pizzeria and cuisine.
Going towards Claino and Osteno meet the “Caves of Rescia”. These caves are formed from deposited tuff and you can admire stalactites in continuous training. From here you can also see the waterfall of the Santa Giulia stream. I reach the Lago di Piano Regional Nature Reserve, on the slopes of Mount Calbiga, which has been recognized as SIC (Site of Community Importance) by the European Union. You can reach this oasis from Porlezza through a convenient cycle path through woods where the protagonists are over 130 species of birds, small mammals, majestic deer, roe deer, numerous species of fish, reptiles and amphibians, including the common toad, which in May invades the shores of the lake to reproduce. Here is a visitor center called “Casa della Riserva” consisting of an ecomuseum, and among other things, an office where it is possible to register for “guided tours” services of the reserve. Visits can be done on foot (day and night), horseback riding, jeep, etc. Another important place in the Reserve is the Multipurpose Naturalistic Observatory, which also works as a petting zoo. Finally, I take a walk in search of local craftsmanship: typical product is the Cavagna, a basket woven with hazel branches created by the peasants with tools simple for common use. Spring is the ideal season to enjoy Lake Lugano and its surroundings.
A little while ago, tornado from Switzerland, enchanted by the view I noticed from the windows of the train, I decided to make a short stop in Como. I must say that I only regret having had little time and my visit lasted so short, because the city is extraordinary. Located a few steps from Switzerland and near Milan, Como overlooks the left branch of Lake Como. It only takes a few minutes and from the lake you pass to the mountain: on one side lies Mount Brunate that you can easily reach by funicular, on the other the Baradello Castel, built in 1100 by Barbarossa. The castle is only reachable on foot, through a beautiful path in the middle of the woods, but I assure you that it deserves every effort, because from there you can admire a wonderful panorama of Brianza and the first basin of the lake. The historic center surrounded by the ancient walls is closed to traffic and is full of clubs and shops. Around you will see beautiful streets and houses, almost all historic. Two other stops not to be missed are the church of San Fedele and the Duomo, which has nothing to envy at the Cathedral of Milan. Thanks to its fabulous climate, Como is full of greenery and flowers that often hide historic villas. Such as Villa Olmo, venue for conferences and exhibitions, and no less interesting is the Villa Saporiti, both overlooking the lake. If you have enough time, take a boat ride around the lake. It is spectacular especially in spring and summer when the flowers are in full bloom. Zigzagging between banks you will notice the beautiful villas and gardens, villages climbing the steep banks, the mountains that are reflected in the blue waters of the lake. No wonder the beautiful George Clooney and equally beautiful Brad Pitt bought the villas located right on the shores of the lake. When I finally win the Lotto, I'll do it too!
Como is a small town in the north of Lombardy, it is located on the homonymous lake hidden in the mountains of the Alps and is a very fascinating city. If you arrive in Como by car, you can park in one of the garages in the center, and explore the historic part on foot, because it is a pedestrian zone. The old town is not too big, but there are many monuments. The main attraction is of course the Cathedral. According to legend, inside the cathedral is depicted a hen, hidden in any form. As a fresco, statue or low relief, you don't know where, but if you find it, you'll be lucky for life. Every time I go there, I hope to find her but unfortunately I haven't succeeded yet! Try it, maybe you'll be more fortunate! Don't forget: you'll be lucky all your life! After visiting the historic center, where the old walls are also located, you can go to the promenade along the port. You will find the park, where the Volta Temple stands, a museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta, the famous physicist of Comasca origin. The lake port moors boats that give tourists the opportunity to reach the other characteristic cities of Lario. For those who don't feel like spending too much time on the boat, they can always go for a pedal boat ride. Currently, part of the lakeside dock is being rebuilt, as floods occur when the glaciers melt in spring.
The history of this private museum is somewhat original. Here, in the breeding Il Portichetto was born in July 1952 a very special colt, Tornese. A beautiful sauro with a blonde mane and tail, a trotter who won almost all the prizes possible in the 1950s and that was comparable only to the famous Varenne of our time. The stable buildings were sold to the owner of a baby product company that made it an industrial plant. After years of work, Catelli came with some sense of guilt and decided to dedicate the place to horses. So the project for the toy horse museum started. The result we can visit and touch today. A beautiful place where adults and children can admire more than five hundred rocking horses, toys, carousel horses. Everyone comes back a little children there but only real children can get on the old steeds and dream of races in the prairie and jump over ditches and bushes. A beautiful collection with unique pieces, collected from all over the world. Handmade pieces, crumpled by time and the use of the little knights. The materials used were mainly wood as for Edward, the symbol horse of the museum, made by skilled craftsmen from Val Gardena. Also metal and papier-mache were materials used to produce children's friends. Every horse has its own name, and there are all kinds of horses. From the horse of the Hermete carousel, who came to Grandate from Hungary to the delicate Jacqueline, to the Fortunato horse in iron and to Tatzuo who comes from China and has traveled half the world. Every horse has its own story and it's great to imagine the children of the past who ride their steeds. In front of the museum the huge Roberto rocking horse welcomes you. It is the horse that was built for Roberto Benigni's film Pinocchio and it is so big that it must always stay out in the open air.
This beautiful town, overlooking Lake Maggiore on the Lombard side, is a historic site of great importance. In Roman times it was an important center and in the Middle Ages it was the seat of the territorial organization and the defensive system of the archbishops of Milan, there are buildings that still remember this glorious past. Of particular beauty and charm, in Angera, is the Sanctuary Madonna della Riva, built after a miracle that occurred on 27 June 1657, when the image of the Blessed Virgin, frescoed on top of a side wall of Casa Berna, she wept blood. After a thorough investigation that proved the miracle, permission was obtained to build the Sanctuary that became the center of Marian devotion. The head of the work was the Milanese architect Gerolamo Quadrio and the foundation stone was laid on 10 August 1662. The difficulties encountered during the construction and the lack of funds prevented the complete realization of the original project. In 1943, the façade was reinforced by the architect Rino Ferrini d'Angera because it was in danger of collapsing. Inside the sanctuary there is the elegant altar with the image of the Madonna and Child Jesus in her arms, detached from the original wall and transferred to canvas by Tino Anselmi. The feast of the Sanctuary is celebrated every first Sunday in July and that of the miracle on the anniversary day (27 June).
Villa Carlotta is situated between the villages of Cadenabbia and Tremezzo. It was built at the end of XVIII century by the Milanese marquis Giorgio Clerici in a natural basin between lake and mountains.The architect created an important but sober building , with an italian garden decorated with sculptures , stairs and fountains.It was with Gian Battista Sommariva , the following owner, that the property in Tremezzo attained the summit of its splendour. The villa became a temple of XIX century art with works of Canova.Thordvaldsen and Hayez and part of the park was transformed in fascinating romantic garden.Sommariva's heirs sold the villa in 1843 to Princess Marianne of Nassau, who gave it as a present to her daughter Carlotta in occasion of her wedding with George II of Saxen-Meiningen. Very fond in botanic George enriched the park ,today of great historical and environmental value.The gardens of Villa Carlotta chiefly owe reputation to the rhododendrons and azaleas pring flowering , consisting of over 150 different sort.But the gardens are worth to visit in every period of the year:old varieties of camelias,century old cedars,and sequoias,huge planes and tropical plants,the Rock garden,and the Ferms valley,the Rhododendrons wood and the Bamboos garden,the agricultural tools museum and wonderful views of the lake. Since more than 20 years every Friday night from July to Septmeber the villa hosts a chamber music festival. Suitable accomodation to visit it is www.glicinehouse.com and www.azaleahouse.eu They are two wonderful flats located at Griante, just 10 minutes walking from the Villa.
