Scopello photo journal

Goodbye Scopello

Giando

We first met Roberto Glandolini (Giando) at the wedding in Greece. He is a good friend of Luca and he lives in Scopa (about 3 kms south of Scopello). He also has  restaurant and bed and breakfast at the Alpi de Mara ski hill just above Scopello.

Giando

Giando's restaurant and bed and breakfast

We met again at his restaurant where we had a wonderful meal and evening celebrating Giovanni's birthday

Giovanni's birthday party

Giando became our unofficial guide to Scopella. Bob and Giando went hiking to the alpine above Rima and a second time above Alagna

Refuge above Rima

Alpine above Rima

Returning from Alagna we stopped for beer, wine tasting, and cocktails, the rest of the evening was a bit hazy. One night Giando took us to his Moroccan friends restaurant, for pizza, beer and a round of pool. We then polished off a big bottle of homemade Lemonchello with the owner after all the guests left, much laughter and fun. On another occasion we drove to the ski hill, to his friends restaurant which was closed and the whole family dined with us. Language aside we had a great meal and experience, they even played "O Canada" on itunes for us. We felt like family.

 We invited Giando out one night (he of course picked the restaurant a place he had worked at). We had a "typical" Italian meal, the trout was excellent and the owner/chef joined us for Grappa and then he toured us around his restaurant/hotel/disco.

Despite his diminative stature Giando's heart is as big as Italy. Our time in Scopello was made immeasurably more wonderful by Giando's hospitality.Thank you and remember you promised to visit Canada and partake in our hospitality. 

Varallo

The city of Varallo is beautifully situated where the Sesia and Mastallone rivers join. Only a 20 minute drive from Scopello so we visited numerous times. Anyone travelling through the Valsesia valley passes through this historic city.

Overlooking old  Varallo

Varallo

You feel like you step back in time, within the narrow streets, historical buildings, and cobblestone streets, Yet we enjoyed modern activities like purchasing our tour to the Red Sea, a SIM card, finding Wi Fi access at lovely street side cafes and to even get a haircut! Tuesday's market was a great source for fruits and vegetables and the antique fair was worthwhile despite the rain.

Market day

Main square Varallo

Overlooking Varallo city is Sacro Monte and it was a very surprising visit, to this UNESCO reserve. It was originally built in 1491 as a recreation of sacred places, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem,  Step up to the window openings and peer inside, to see the events of Christ's life, depicted in theatrical scenes, housed in 45 chapels with over 800 (yes over 800) life-sized statues of wood and multi-colored terracotta. San Nicolao, the large church (1878) is dedicated solely to the Virgin Mary and the alter has many more statues. The grounds are also beautiful and pleasant for a stroll through the oak and chestnut trees.

Valsesia Valley alpine villages Piemonte Region

Look up anywhere along the Sesia River and you see small villages perched on mountainsides or as you drive along the Valsea valley through the frequent villages. Giant cowbells ring out and you have to wait when the cows are herded through your road.

Rossa

The Walser villages date back over 8 centuries with a history of trades and handicrafts. German in origin and once important for mills, presses, and mineral production for weapons, industry still carries on. Wood and painted decorations are stuffed into roadside shops. The area is also known for scapins (slippers) puncelto needle lacework, wrought iron and soapstone works.

Wood shop

Gardens are everywhere and any food grown or foraged is used. Sally particularly liked the Toma cheese and tried wild goat, rabbit, and locally made Genepy a herbal liqueur. This years mushroom picking was poor due to very wet summer and dry fall. Hanging baskets still bloomed and are so plentiful.

Genepy

Rima to me was the most beautiful village, surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains. Frequent avalanches also mean no ski hills here unlike Alagna another village so close Swiss border and Monte Rosa range, Italy's highest.

Rima

Church in Alagna

Stone houses, bridges and buildings are the structures of the valley and even today, any new building attempt to preserve the look. A stone mason earns a good wage and it is often hard to distinguish the new vs the old. You have to like stone to live here.

Scopello

One of the things we wanted to do was to live in another community, as opposed to being a tourist/traveller. A wonderful opportunity came to us from Luca's family. So except for two short road trips, we were able to spend a month in Scopello, a small town in Northern Italy, in the Valsesia valley. The valley, billed as the greenest in Italy, is approximately 50 kms from Varallo to the top of the valley at Alagna, but first some thank you's.
Thanks to Chiara who picked us up at the Malpensa (Milano) airport and to Giovanni who arranged the perfect rental car for us.

Peugeot Partner

 Thanks to Luca and Louisa for letting us use their apartment in Scopello, and a special thanks to Luisa and Antonio who waited for us in Scopello and got us settled and comfortable in the apartment.

Apartment in Scopello

Scopello

Scopello was so beautiful, quiet and peaceful. You could always hear church bells and the sound of the Sesia river as we visited the businesses in this small town. Since we were here in the low season, one could only imagine the bustling ski season or summer holidays.

The people we met were so friendly and made great efforts to help us. They thought we'd come a long way to stay in Italy. We shall always have great memories of Italian hospitality. The best hosts you could ask for.

Valsesia valley