Hi everyone!
Today I would like to tell you about a magical and fascinating place, as always accompanied by a beautiful legend that keeps its curiosity and beauty alive.
This place is called “Montagna Spaccata” - literally “Split Mountain” and is located in Recoaro in the province of Vicenza (Italy).
Recoaro is also called the “Emerald Basin”: this valley surrounds the village with meadows and woods, surmounted by crown of mountains (the Small Dolomites) which stand out with their gray on the bright green and fiery colors of autumn, end above all, always a beautiful blue sky!
There is an entrance fee and it includes the rental of a helmet to wear to protect your head in case a small stone should detach from the mountain (don’t worry, it’s only a preventive measure anyway, similar episodes have never happened!).
In fact, the visit takes place in complete safety, via a well-anchored metal staircase (at the beginning it was wooden) and is also accessible to small children, in fact families are welcome!
After a short walk, one can admire a 92 meters deep fissure which has been dug over the centuries by the force of the water.
It is a geological phenomenon of rare beauty: it’s not every day that you enter the belly of a mountain! I recommend a visit during the day (in summer it is also open in the evening) as even the play of light has its charm as you enter the mountain!
And now we come to the legend linked to this magical place: “The legend narrates that in the distant years that are lost in time, in the so lonely valley, where over a century ago the inn at “Montagna Spaccata” was born, there lived beautiful “anguana” ( the anguana is a creature linked to water, with characteristics in part similar to those of a nymph and typical of Alpine mythology)… These beautiful female could be seen at night when, with the full moon, they heared singing and saw these beautiful and shiny dancing among the rocks. These fairy spirits exercised their charm on men, subjoging them.
The young mountaineer Giordano passed through those woods; he saw a wonderful long-haired creature name Etele and fell in love with her. The wise old locals tried in every way to dissuase the young man from marrying the girl, because they knew that a spell was bearing on Etele’s future: she would gone when his mother, the wood enchant, died. The same witch, pitied by the unhappy love that would arise from this union, spoke to Giordano. but nothing made him change his mind: the love for the wonderful “anguana” was such as to defy any omen!
They were married and lived in a hut built by the young mountaineer with fir logs. they couldn’t dream of a greater happiness. But one sad summer dawn the witch died: the whole valley was wrapped in a tragic silence.
The two were sleeping sweetly embraced, Etele kissed the groom and tried to get up without arousing him. But his long hair moved and woke him up. Etele escaped to meet her sad destiny. Pursued by the groom, she reached the foot of a very high cliff, which barred her passage.
She turned and saw Giordano who was about to join her.
The spell manifested: a loud roar shocked the earth and the cliff splashed to its full height and Etele, drawn inside, disappeared towards the sky. Giordano attempt to cross the huge cut, but a rough waterfall stopped him and rejected him towards the valley.” 
After visiting the waterfalls, it is possible to stop for a refreshment where you can taste typical products, stop to listen to live music or rest on the adjacent lawn where there is also a play area for children.
I hope you enjoyed this experience and the legend linked to the “Split Mountain” !
Hi everyone 
,
David