Piona Abbey

The BIG day starts here....

This is Piona Abbey at the top of Lake Como just below Colico....it is a place that I have know and visited regularly for over 40 years. The grounds are extensive and the peace and tranquility one can find there makes is so worth while visiting..... The cloisters are always cool - even in the heat of the summer and being on a small peninsular on the lake the views are, to say the least - breathtakimg!
Here are a couple to give you an idea of the beauty which surrounds this ancient abbey....









This one in the middle is looking south east down the lake towards Lecco and Como.




And this last one is looking out northwards towards the north east.....
In the abbey 'shop' run entirely by the brothers they do a roaring trade in 'alcoholic beverages' - all made by the monks from ancient 'herbal' recipes - I kid you not when I say that some are totally beyond being potent!!!!!!!

One in particular is called Imperial Drops (Gocce Imperiali)and comes in at 60% proof - boy does THAT make your hair curly!!!