标签意大利下的文章

阿布鲁佐的Rocca Calascio，意大利 Rocca Calascio in Abruzzo, Italy (© Francesco Russo/eStock Photo)

A fortress in the sky

Beginning as a lone watchtower high in the Apennines in the 10th century, the fortress called Rocca Calascio gained more heft over the next few hundred years. A quartet of additional towers and heavy walls were gradually added around the first tower. These fortifications made clear that Rocco Calascio was ready for any military rivals who might scale the slopes from the valley below to attack this garrison. The fight never came. The ruins you see here are not battle scars but the result of a powerful earthquakes. By the early 1700s, Rocca Calascio was abandoned, but it can still claim the title of highest fortress in the Apennines—and some of the most spectacular views in all of Italy. In fact, filmmakers have chosen the site for several movies, including 'The Name of the Rose' and 'Ladyhawke.'

天空中的堡垒
从10世纪亚平宁的一座孤金瞭望塔开始，这座名为罗卡·卡拉西奥的堡垒在接下来的几百年里变得更加高。在第一座塔楼周围逐渐增加了四分之一的塔楼和沉重的墙壁。这些防御工事表明，罗科·卡拉西奥已经为任何可能从下面的山谷上扩大斜坡攻击这个驻军的军事对手做好准备。战斗从未来过。你在这里看到的废墟不是战斗的伤疤，而是强烈地震的结果。到17世纪早期，罗卡卡拉西奥被遗弃，但它仍然可以声称在亚彭宁斯最高的堡垒的称号 - 和一些在意大利最壮观的景色。事实上，电影制作人已经为几部电影选择了该网站，包括《玫瑰的名字》和《夫人霍克》。

部分被雪覆盖的Val Cervara山坡上的老山毛榉林，意大利蒙帕赛诺 Partly snow-covered slope in Val Cervara, an old-growth beech forest, in Abruzzo, Italy (© Bruno D'Amicis/Minden Pictures)

Europe's oldest beech forest

Listen closely. Is that whistling you hear coming from a chamois, that great-antlered species of goat-antelope? Could it be the howls of an endangered wolf echoing off the mountainside? Or the bellowing of the Marsican brown bear, one of only 50 or so left on Earth? Most likely it's just the cold November wind blowing through this, the oldest beech tree forest in all of Europe. Hard to believe that this vast stand of primeval forest is just a two-hour drive east from Rome's busiest airport.

If Italy is a boot, then the National Park of Abruzzo is right in the middle of it, straddling the north and the south. While most tourists flock elsewhere in the country, a few nature seekers venture here to Abruzzo, the greenest part of Italy. Two-thirds of the park are covered in European beech tree forests, protected by their density. Shepherds, farmers, and loggers have never fully penetrated these forests. Hunters have, however, and some species, including the wolf and bear, have become gravely endangered. Hopefully, they, and the forest will thrive—UNESCO made this a protected site in 2017.

巴罗洛葡萄园的山丘，意大利皮埃蒙特 The hills of Barolo vineyards in Piedmont, Italy (© Marco Arduino/eStock Photo)

Autumn in Piedmont

This beautiful fall scene is in the Langhe area of Piedmont, one of the great winegrowing regions in Italy. More specifically, we're looking at the hills of Barolo, a town famous for its locally produced wine of the same name, made from Nebbiolo grapes. In addition to wine, Piedmont is known for its truffles, which are harvested this time of year. Piedmont chocolate is also highly prized. Bicerin, a popular coffee-chocolate drink from the city of Turin (which hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics), has been around since the 18th century. The piemontesi, as locals are called, know how to eat and drink. Salute!

马焦雷湖畔的贝拉岛，意大利皮埃蒙特 Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore, Piedmont, Italy (© Massimo Ripani/eStock Photo)

Bellissima!

Isola Bella translates from Italian to English as 'Beautiful Island.' We're not going to argue with that. It certainly stands out even amid the rest of picturesque Lake Maggiore in Italy's northwestern Piedmont region. For years, the only human habitation on the island was a small fishing village. The village is still there, but in 1632, Carlo III, an Italian royal, commissioned the construction of a large palazzo (palace) on the island. The ostentatious palace includes a model Italian garden. Both are now major tourist attractions. Visitors to Stresa, the nearby town on the mainland, can book passage to Isola Bella and the other Borromean Islands for day trips or overnight stays…and our list of future travel destinations grows ever longer.

大运河和安康圣母圣殿，意大利威尼斯 The Grand Canal and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, Italy (© Jim Richardson/Offset by Shutterstock)

Venice by night

In Venice, Italy, the third Sunday in July is known as 'Festa del Redentore' (The Redeemer's Feast), which commemorates the city's salvation from the plague in the 16th century. As Italy still reels from being hard hit by the new coronavirus, the holiday is particularly poignant this year. It traditionally features a fireworks display, a regatta, and a temporary bridge that connects the Zattere promenade to the Church of the Redeemer on the Island of Giudecca. While this year's celebration will look different due to COVID-19, it will still be an important and festive day for Venetians.

雷西亚湖上的钟楼，意大利博尔扎诺 The bell tower in Lake Reschen in South Tyrol, Italy (© Scacciamosche/Getty Images)

Italy's submerged village

A 14th-century church tower peeking above the water offers a clue to the past here at Lake Reschen, in northern Italy. Until the mid-20th century, this site in the Italian Alps was home to the village of Graun, which included some 163 homes. But then in 1939, an electric company announced plans to build a dam and an artificial lake here, which would submerge Graun and part of the town of Reschen. Despite public outcry and delays due to World War II, the towns were eventually submerged in 1950 (with everyone safely removed, of course). These days, the remaining church steeple draws tourists, especially in winter, when the lake is frozen over and visitors can walk across.

Madonna della Corona教堂，意大利 The Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona in Italy (© Volodymyr Kalyniuk/Alamy)

Looking for peace on the precipice

The Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona sits on an outcropping almost 2,500 feet high overlooking the Adige River Valley in Northern Italy, near the city of Verona. Since the Middle Ages, this spot has been a destination for religious pilgrimages. The faithful are drawn no doubt by the views and, perhaps, the dangerous path to get there--enlightenment shouldn't come easy.

Over the centuries, the structure has evolved from a hermitage to a church, first inaugurated in 1530, and eventually to a sanctuary for contemplation and reflection. In the mid-1970s, architect Guido Tisato oversaw a major renovation, including digging out more of the mountain to add additional space. Today, visitors can reach the sanctuary from above via a paved path or from below, on a longer trail, known as the 'Path of Hope,' that ends with a steep staircase zigzagging upward. We think those who manage the climb up may be justified in feeling a little superior.

以佩尔莫山为背景云层之上的Rifugio Lagazuoi，意大利多洛米蒂山脉 Rifugio Lagazuoi above the clouds with Monte Pelmo in the background, Dolomites, Italy (© Nicolo Miana/eStock Photo)

Après-ski in the Dolomites

Today's homepage image features Rifugio Lagazuoi, a ski lodge located at about 9,000 feet above sea level on Italy's Mount Lagazuoi. With an elevation higher than most ski lodges in this area of the Dolomites, it gives visitors opportunities for breathtaking views like this one. The ruggedly beautiful mountain landscapes, pristine natural environments, and distinctive geologic formations all contributed to the Dolomites being recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009. While the area is accessible all year long, it's worth visiting during the ski season to check out the Great War Ski Tour, an open-air museum and where you can see World War I trenches and tunnels created by Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops as they fought each other in this precipitous and stunning terrain.

In the valley of the doll

Today we're featuring a picture-postcard view of Val Gardena, a valley nestled in Dolomites in the South Tyrol region of Italy. This time of year, the remote area may be a bit busier than usual as skiers are drawn to its famous slopes. In summer, it's known for other outdoor activities, such as rock climbing and hiking. Since the 17th century, the villagers have been famed for their woodcarving. Artisans create everything from simple, utilitarian items, like wood bowls, to finely detailed figurines. One of the woodcarvers' biggest hits? A wooden peg doll that was popular across Europe and the US during the 19th century.

When in Rome...celebrate Saturnalia

We're looking at the Temple of Saturn, one of the oldest structures of the Forum in Rome. It was here that ancient Romans began their celebrations of Saturnalia, which began on December 17. Both the temple and the festival are dedicated to the agricultural god Saturn, whose reign was associated with a golden age of prosperity and peace. Saturnalia festivities kicked off with a sacrifice at the temple, followed by a public banquet and a week of general merrymaking. Activities included gambling, eating, drinking, and playing music. Businesses and schools closed, and even slaves were free from work and allowed to participate in the merrymaking. Many Saturnalia customs evolved into Christmas traditions, such as gift-giving, decorating homes with wreaths, and drinking spiced wine.

星空迷