Our Favorite Quirky Sites in the Northern Italian Lakes

We’re currently on the road on a research trip, exploring the areas around Italy's Alpine Lakes. 

So today we thought we’d talk about some of the more quirky and unusual places that we’ve visited up in those areas in the past. 

Among other things, today you’ll hear about…:

- the stuffed crocodile in the cathedral; 

- the church carved into the cliff; 

- and how a menorah fits into Lord of the Rings

Follow along with us this week on our socials as we revisit some old favorite spots like these, and we search out new amazing places to visit. 

Want to know more about us and our travel services? Find us at: 

www.LittleRoadsEurope.com

www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope

We craft small-town driving itineraries for travelers to Italy, Ireland and Scotland.

And our "alter-egos" as musicians:

www.OrsiniVirtuosi.it

Transcript

Quirky Places in northern Italy podcast notes

Note: This is not a complete transcript, but rather the show notes we write in advance to prepare for the episode. 

INTRO: 

Welcome to Little Roads Unfiltered: Italy and Beyond

As you’re listening to this podcast, we’re on the road, exploring the northern reginos of Italy. So we thought we’d talk about some of the more quirky and unusual places that we’ve visited up there in the past. 

Among other things, you’ll hear about…:

- the crocodile in the cathedral; 

- the church carved into the cliff; 

- and the differences between a gnome and a Hobbit

[music up then down to 20%]

This is Matt Walker          …and I’m Zeneba Bowers - 

We’re recording while sitting on the terrace of our tiny home in Italy - so you’ll get a sense of the sounds of life in our little town - complete with ecc ecc ecc

“ … we’ll be talking about renovations in Italy in today’s chat - here on Little Roads Unfiltered: Italy and Beyond.”

[Music up then fade out]

For those of you who don’t know us: We are professional musicians and also travel writers and consultants, living and working here in Italy for the past 6 years. 

If you want to learn more about us and our lives, you can find us on our website LittleRoadsEurope..com, on our socials, and of course here on our podcast.

…and by the way, we hope you like our intro music - Matt arranged it, and we recorded it right here in our house! Since we’re musicians working here in Italy, we thought that would be a fun and sensible addition to our show.

So let’s get to talking about our favorite spot in the Lakes!

- Crocodile church: Santuario della Beata Vergine Maria della Grazie in the town of Grazie

Dark space, easy to miss crocodile in giant space

Walls covered in decorations - Look like shells but are hands

Wooden statues, look like marionettes, being executed in various ways 

- Santuario Maria della Corona

Sanctuary carved into cliff

Reminds us of Petra in Jordan

Visited in July, no water - docents asked Z if she was okay

- Ossuaries of Solferino / San Martino

Battle of Solferino (and other bloody battles) in 1859 Napoleonic wars (Napoleon III, not the guy with the hand in his coat) 

Locals collected the bones of the dead, set them in these churches as war memorials. 

Afterwards, a Swiss citizen had the idea to create an international war relief force and also a series of agreements governing wartime behavior between factions; later he expanded these ideas which ultimately led to the creation of the International Red Cross, and later the Geneva Convention. 

A place that world leaders should be required to visit, to think about consequences of war

In contrast: - Lake Como: Olgiasca Cistercian Abbey - 

Liquori - (colored like Galiano Harvey Walbanger)

6 PM monastic Gregorian chant

- Pyramids of Zone

“Pyramids” - stalagmites - “Hoodoos” 30 m high

Past these: “Path of the Gnomes”

- Pub Locanda dello Hobbit - Hobbit Bar / 

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you should follow us on our socials: As you’re listening here, we’re up in these northern regions of Italy, exploring and discovering new places like these

OUTRO: 

I think that’s a good place to wrap it up here - we hope you enjoyed joining us for our chat about renovations in Italy !

If you enjoyed what you’ve heard, please give us a like or a good rating on your favorite platform, and tell your friends about us… 

And don’t forget our ASK US ANYTHING

We talk about a wide variety of topics here on this podcast, from travel tips to slice-of-life stories - we post a new episode every Tuesday. 

So catch us next time - we’ll see you down the Little Roads… CIAO!