Walk: The Donkeys Of Collegio Rosmini

Group shot! The Rosmini donkeys.

Are you the sort who stops to pet every dog you pass while walking along the lungolago? Do you throw crumbs to the swans and ducks in Lago Maggiore? Then you will also enjoy visiting this somewhat hidden corner of Stresa and saying hello to the donkeys who live there. 

These guys have a pretty big responsibility: keeping the sloping fields of grass and wild flowers in front of Il Collegio Rosmini neatly trimmed. And they work hard at it... I never see them lazy or taking a day off. 

(   Continued  ....   )

 Hard at work.

But they did pause briefly to come over to the fence to say hello to me. I got the feeling it was more because they were hoping I had a carrot or something tasty to offer them, but for that I'm afraid I sorely disappointed them.

Don't look at me with that sad face... I'm sorry, I have no carrots.

However, they stayed near the fence by me long enough for some photos, and then eventually wandered away, back to work...

Okay, if you're so inclined, here's how to find them. This field, believe it or not, is just a couple of minutes away from the main Piazza in Stresa, Piazza Cadorna. Starting from there, walk down the small street via de Vit, which is between Profumi di Stresa and Piazetta pizza shop. Keep walking straight on this narrow street, two blocks, until you arrive at a sort of small circle where several streets join. Go about as straight as you can, which is actually the road in front of you and slightly to the right.This is via Alessandro Manzoni, and you'll see signs for Rosmini as well as signs for the Sentiero dei Castagni, The Chestnut Trail. This road starts to climb uphill, and you'll almost immediately see the Rosmini complex beyond the stone wall on your right.

Collegio Rosmini, and the Rosmini donkeys.

Walking up here can be nothing more than a short stroll away from the piazza to show your children the donkeys, or, it can be a beginning to a longer walk along the Sentiero dei Castagni. If you choose to walk along the trail know that you can walk for about 10 minutes, reaching the end of the cobble-paved section, and then turn around and return. It's a really lovely little walk. 

Or, you can continue straight up the hill on via Manzoni and visit Chiesa del Ss. Crocifisso, the church, at the Collegio. It is absolutely worth a peek inside. Here's a post explaining a little about Antonio Rosmini.