Reflections of M. C. Escher

The image below is a photograph. It's not a PhotoShop creation.

Inspired by M. C. Escher's 1935 Lithograph "Hand with Reflecting Sphere" .

This one, a play on M.C. Escher's 1946 Lithograph "Three Spheres II" is a PhotoShop creation. It's a composite of four images.


I have posted some similarly inspired photos into a Flickr PhotoSet I call On M. C. Escher click the link to see them.

You can see my post about my brush with M.C. Escher in my post on visiting Castrovalva in Abruzzo, Italy.

On to Scanno

Previously I wrote about visiting Castrovalva. This is easily done as a side trip on the way to the more popular destination of Scanno, also the subject of an M. C. Escher work.

A Street in Scanno, Abruzzo Italy

Escher’s 1930 woodcut, Street in Scanno, Abruzzi can be seen on the home page (and in the gallery) of the Official M. C. Escher Web Site. Escher’s view looks toward my camera position.

Scanno, just 100 miles and a couple of centuries away from the hustle and bustle of Rome, is a breath of fresh air and should not be missed.

The Road to Scanno

The drive south through the Valle del Sagittario on SR479 is simply spectacular, reminding me of an earlier drive up the Big Thompson Canyon from Loveland Colorado to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

In the photo above, taken from Castrovalva, a portion of the road just south of Anversa Degli Abruzzi is seen. South to Scanno is to the left.

The Road to Scanno 2	Lago di San Domenico
looking south from near Castrovalva	& Gole del Sagittario

Villalago

Rainbow over Lago di Scanno

Lago di San Domenico

Above, Lago di San Domenico, and Gole del Sagittario. The lake is a popular swimming and picnic spot.

I last wrote of reaching SR479 by exiting the A-25/E-80 Autostrada at the exit for Casale and Anversa Degli Abruzzi. This is correct but is not my best advice.

Unless you are really in a hurry (which is not a very good way to visit Italy), exit a bit earlier at Pescina and follow SR83, the old route over the mountain to Casale. It will add only about 20 minutes of driving time (and maybe 10 more stopping to say wow at the views) as you climb over the mountain (Montagna Grande) that the Autostrada tunnels through. You won't be disappointed.

Cocullo

The town of Cocullo sits just above the eastern portal of the Autostrada tunnel. If you take the Autostrada you will pass beneath the town underground. If you follow the route from Pescina you will see the town from above before passing through it.

Because Pescina and Casale are both accessible just off the Autostrada with no major towns in between, this beautiful road sees little auto traffic though it is quite popular among the local motorcyclists. Pescina also offers nice spots to stop for a bite to eat before continuing.

I have posted more photos from Abruzzo into photosets on my Flickr Photo Site

Please check out Abruzzo – Sud (South of A-25, includes Scanno photos), Abruzzo – Nord (North of A-25) and Abruzzo – Fucino (Fucino Valley). Many of the photos there are GeoTagged for location. Comments, suggestions and corrections are welcome and appreciated.

A Trip to Castrovalva

A Town in Abruzzo, An M.C. Escher Lithograph and the title of an episode in the BBC television series Dr. Who.

Castrovalva, Abruzzo Italy

I first saw Castrovalva from my car while driving the A25/E80 Autostrada between Avezzano and Pescara. The town is perched on a knife edge ridge off to your right shortly after you emerge from the tunnel Galleria San Domenico below Cocullo. From the highway, the town almost appears inaccessible. I had to find out how to get there.

The Road to Castrovalva

To reach the town you exit the A25 immediately after you emerge from the tunnel and travel through Casale and Anversa Degli Abruzzi. The road up to Castrovalva is a left turn shortly after Anversa Degli Abruzzi off SR479, the road south to Scanno through the Valle del Sagittario, between Monte Genzana and Montagna Grande. The road to the town climbs steeply up the western side of the hill via a series of switchbacks until a short tunnel just below the ridge line crosses over to the eastern side. A final switchback brings you into Castrovalva.

Castrovalva Rooftops

Castrovalva Street Views

The Edge of Town

The town was the subject of a 1930 Lithograph by M.C. Escher. I would love to include Escher’s image here but copyright prevents it. The best I can do is point you to the Wikipedia page for the print and to the Official M. C. Escher Website where Castrovalva and many other images are found in several galleries. I learned of the Escher connection only recently. Had I known, I could have attempted to locate his vantage point and recreate his view.

M. C. Escher's View (almost)

Escher’s view was apparently near the current road, shortly after it passes through the ridge line tunnel and prior to the last switch back. This is as close as I got. My view is from above the town. Little has changed except the Autostrada which can be seen entering the tunnel between Casale and Cocullo in the distance.

I have posted more photos from Abruzzo into photosets on my Flickr Photo Site

Please check out Abruzzo – Sud (South of A-25, includes Castrovalva photos), Abruzzo – Nord (North
of A-25) and Abruzzo – Fucino (Fucino Valley). Many of the photos there are GeoTagged for location. Comments, suggestions and corrections are welcome and appreciated.