Monte San Martino in Valcuvia

Last Saturday we decided to take a drive up to Monte San Martino in Northern Italy. It was a very cold day, even with a dusting of snow! This is what we found along the way as well as the view from the top! A brief history about Monte San Martino includes a memorial that has been built in 1963, commemorating the first battle of the Italian resistance movement that opposed the occupied German forces & the fascist regime during the last years of WWII.

Monte San Martino

Valcuvia

View from the top looking north at the Alps towards Switzerland

Lake Maggiore & city of Luino, Italy

Sacrario ai Caduti 

(shrine to the fallen)

Carved in stone, a description of the battle of San Martino

"ABBIAMO PRESO LE ARMI PER LA LIBERTÀ DI TUTTI"

(We have taken up arms, for everyone's freedom)

Shrine & mausoleum which holds the remains of those who died in battle.

Church of San Martino

Enjoying the view 

Castagne

chestnuts  

As we drove up through the chestnut forest, the ground was covered in dried chestnuts. A bit late in the season, but still beautiful rich gold & brown tones to enjoy!