One of the places we managed to see before the dramatic changes  affect ing our planet this year was the sanctuary of Our Lady of Safekeeping (Della Guardia) of Argegna which is situated in the commune of Giuncugnano near the Carpinelli pass which divides Garfagnana from Lunigiana.

We first visited this delightful area in 2005 and were taken by the expansive level lawn in front of the sanctuary, unusual in such a hilly area.

Fifteen years later we passed by the sanctuary, stopped for a short while there and still found it as charming as ever.

The sanctuary dates back rather more recently than we thought. It was built at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1944 German forces set fire to it and in 1945 the sanctuary was strafed by British planes. Fortunately it was subsequently restored.

The sanctuary’s festival is held on the last Sunday of August and hopefully we might even make it there this year if the quarantine is terminated.

Here are some photographs I’ve managed to find of that first visit in 2005. Looking at places we visited in  our past can be a reassuring thing to do in these troubled times.

At nearby Piazza del Serchio we passed by an old steam locomotive of a type in regular use in this region until the nineteen fifties and employed anew to haul special vintage train summer excursions on the Serchio railway line. Let’s hope that they return soon!