Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

Viola and her Mom have finally returned from a long and arduous journey around the provinces of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, South Tyrol and Veneto in Northern Italy, hunting for Christmas street markets. “I bought only glass balls”, says Viola. “Mum, instead, stocked up on cheeses, special breads and strudel”. And certainly there was no lack of thrilling Krampuses, “who whipped Mom — it appears to be a tradition with Saint Nicholas. They are really scary, shakhing cowbells and brandishing whips. Those I photographed in Merano (Meran) carried horsehair whips, but those in Cortina who whipped Mom had a leather whip!”, she says. They also found time for a walk around San Candido (Innichen) and its Tre Cime Natural Park and finally before leaving they climbed up the popular snow-clad Dolomite peaks, such as the Sella Pass. Photos courtesy of Viola Rocchini.