Just about a year ago, almost to the day, I was standing in front of this church, Chiesa di San Leonardo, in the Dolomites. The Dolomites region had record cold weather last year and, as you can see, the peaks of the surrounding mountains were often obscured by gloomy clouds. Being my first trip to the Italian Alps, I was hoping for a bit warmer visit and sunny days but I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and history that I was able to see. This area was made up of small villages and towns, many of which were located on the sides of neighboring mountains. It was very cool to be able to see across the landscape and see each town in the distance.
The church, which is located at the highest point above the hamlet of Casamazzagno, was built in the late-Gothic style in the 1540’s. From its high perch, the church offers parishioners and visitors a vast panoramic view of the whole valley.