THE JOURNEY IS HALF THE FUN - to RASA in the CENTO VALI

BERN TO CAMPO RASA

 We left Bern by train early on Thursday morning traveling through the Alps to Domodossalo in Italy for lunch. It was a perfect day - hot and sunny. After lunch we wandered up The Sacred Mountain of Domodossola (also known as Sacro Monte Calvario) a Catholic sanctuary on the Mattarella Hill, overlooking Domodossola. It is one of the nine sacred places included in the UNESCO World Heritage list and the route is up a cobbled switch-back street in the dappled shade of plane trees.  The route is marked by stations of the cross, classical little shrines built in 1637, arriving at the crest of the hill where there is a small church and monastry set in beautiful gardens with spring water pouring out of a large rock face. We went into the little church to light a candle to our friends who are doing battle with cancer and to give thanks for our many blessings. 

Stations of the cross

Piazza - Domodosolla

Rasa

We continued our journey along the Cento Valley - literally a hundred valleys covered in a mat of trees that fold above a deep gorge until we reached Terra Vecchia where we took a cable car for the final stage of our journey to Rasa set on a plateau.  The first houses in Rasa were built around 1700 hewn from stone in the surrounding mountains. The little retreat where we stayed was founded by Hans Burki as a place for solitude and prayer and it's a peaceful gem of a place run by volunteers - simple and gentle.
The next day was yet another overcast day with tendrils of mist clinging like smoke to the sides of the valleys. A good day for our hike down the mountainside to a small village called Bordei for lunch. It's a lovely walk through the forest crossing gorges and walking along paths that cling to the mountainside. Our lunch at Bordei was one of the best meals we've eaten. This area of Switzerland has a strong Italian influence and that of course includes the food and some of the Renaissance architects, Alberti for one, were born in this area.

Jan at Bordei next to typical dry packed walls and stone tiled roofs

The houses in and around Bordei that have fallen into disrepair are being rebuilt and Anna bumped into a social worker she knows from Bern who helps with the programme. Drug addicts and people who need help are co-opted and apparently they have had a remarkable success rate with rehabilitation.