San Carlo Borromeo

Backblipped for 3rd July

Our last full day of the holiday.

We visited the 77- foot high. on a 40-foot plinth, bronze statue of San Carlo Borromeo, climbing up inside to observe the view of the lake through special holes in his eyes and ears. Glad we'd been advised to go early as it was already getting quite hot inside. The Borromeos were an influential aristocratic family, Carlo rose to be Cardinal Archbishop of Milan from 1564 to 1584.

After a wander round the popular 'beach' on the other side of the lake we continued north to Quicchio to visit the famous chapel of Santa Caterina del Sasso, which clings to the cliff edge in the place where Alberto Besozzi was washed up, surviving a fierce storm which had capsized his boat. To fulfill his vow to God he remained 40 years on that ledge, fed by the villagers above. They, in gratitude for being saved from plague by the hermit's prayers, built a chapel on the site, where his body is laid.

We had descended by the many steps but there is now a very swish lift by which we returned to the top, where we took refreshment beneath a white mulberry tree full of delicious fruit.