Lunchtime in Careggine

With a little help from our truffle hunter friend, we continued our walk through the majestic chestnut woods to Careggine, where we were happy to see there was a trattoria open.  The dining room was deserted, but we were no sooner seated when a class of primary school children descended like a flock of starlings, to liven up the scene!

We enjoyed a slap-up lunch of cheeseboard antipasto followed by fillet steak and a a delicious walnut tart.  Rather more than our normal ...

After exploring the ancient little town after lunch, we returned to the car by the road, still getting our bearings in this lovely part of the Gargagnana.

Our whole walk was dominated by the snowy bulk of Monte Sumbra

Football pitch with a view - though we don't suppose the footballers of Careggine look around  much as they bend to their task!

The friendly waiter takes a selfie for one of the pupils as the teacher stands by - with the olive oil!

Excellent selection of cheeses, with jam and honey

Replete - and sleepy apparently - after an excellent meal

On walkabout after lunch - the gates of the town still intact, with porticoed church seen behind

Striking - and explicit - carved stone now in the church wall, but apparently dating from the early medieval period

Autumn colours and rugged terrain viewed on the way back to the car