Matt Fantinel - Photography https://fantinel.dev Photography posts from Matt Fantinel https://fantinel.dev/favicons/favicon-96x96.png Matt Fantinel - Photography https://fantinel.dev 96 96 https://fantinel.dev/photography/ghost-of-vezio-castle Photography: Ghost of Vezio Castle https://fantinel.dev/photography/ghost-of-vezio-castle Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:25:28 +0000 One of many sculptures that adorn the Vezio Castle in Varenna. Legend says they represent the soul of Theodelinda, the Queen of Lombards in the 7th century, who initially ordered the castle to be built and whose soul is said to wander its halls on moonless nights.

Photo taken on Sunday, 13 Sep 2026

A ghostly hooded figure sculpture standing on a terrace overlooking Lake Como near Vezio, with cypress trees and misty mountains framing the view.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/consonno-ghost-town Photography: Consonno Ghost Town https://fantinel.dev/photography/consonno-ghost-town Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:28:58 +0000 Consonno was a Lombard village for over a thousand years until, in the 1960s, a wealthy businessman bought the land, bulldozed villagers’ homes (some still occupied), and began building the “Las Vegas of Lombardy” — leveling the natural landscape for better mountain views.

The resort never took off, and construction stalled. The environmental damage caught up with it: landslides in the 1970s cut off access, closing the resort for good. It briefly became a home for the elderly before being abandoned entirely.

Photos taken on Sunday, 06 Sep 2026

The graffiti-covered onion-domed minaret tower rising above trees at the abandoned ghost town of Consonno, Italy.

An abandoned, overgrown building at Consonno covered in colorful graffiti, with vegetation climbing over its balcony and broken windows.

A rusted, collapsing canopy walkway at Consonno, overtaken by plants and vines, running alongside a graffiti-covered building.

An abandoned staircase at Consonno covered in graffiti, overgrown with vines and vegetation, with dry branches tangled across the path.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/sacra-san-michele Photography: Sacra di San Michele https://fantinel.dev/photography/sacra-san-michele Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:07:17 +0000 This incredible religious complex dedicated to St. Michael began being built in the 10th century and sits on top of a mountain overlooking the valleys near the city of Turin, in northern Italy.

I was unable to capture the views of it from further below, but it’s even more majestic.

Photos taken on Sunday, 23 Aug 2026

The medieval abbey of Sacra di San Michele in Piedmont, its stone walls and tower built directly onto a rocky mountain outcrop, with visitors viewing from the terrace above.

Visitors walking through the ruined stone tower of the Sacra di San Michele abbey, known as the Torre della Bell'Alda, with sweeping views of the Piedmont valley beyond.

An information plaque at Sacra di San Michele telling, in Italian and English, the legend of the Torre della Bell'Alda: a village girl named Alda, fleeing enemy soldiers, jumped from the tower and survived unharmed after invoking Saint Michael and the Virgin, but died when she vainly tried to repeat the jump to prove the miracle to disbelieving villagers. Illustrated with a photo of the tower at dusk.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/points-of-view Photography: Points of View https://fantinel.dev/photography/points-of-view Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:51:28 +0000 Monte Coltignone seen from Valmadrera / Valmadrera seen from the Coltignone. Photos taken 7 days apart.

Alternate title: How I see Mt. Coltignone / How Mt. Coltignone sees me.

Photos taken on Sunday, 19 Jul 2026

The rocky cliffs of Monte Coltignone rising above Lake Como, seen from Valmadrera, with sailboats on the water below.

Aerial view from Monte Coltignone looking down over Lake Como and the city of Valmadrera, with the branches of the lake and surrounding mountains stretching into the hazy distance.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/bergamo Photography: Bergamo https://fantinel.dev/photography/bergamo Sat, 04 Jul 2026 20:40:18 +0000 Cool people and nice views, lots of things to like in Bergamo.

Photos taken on Saturday, 04 Jul 2026

Aerial view of Bergamo from Città Alta, with the historic upper town's towers and cathedral domes in the foreground and the flat Po Valley stretching to the horizon.

Hillside villas and gardens scattered among dense trees on the slopes of Bergamo's Città Alta, with mountains visible in the distance.

Looking up at the Campanone, Bergamo's medieval stone bell tower in Piazza Vecchia, with its decorative clock face and open bell chamber against a bright blue sky.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/a-short-hike-around-lecco Photography: A Short Hike around Lecco https://fantinel.dev/photography/a-short-hike-around-lecco Sat, 09 May 2026 19:40:00 +0000 An unexpected hike rewarded my wife, my dog and I with this amazing view of Lecco and Monte Coltignone.

Photos taken on Saturday, 09 May 2026

View of Monte Coltignone rising above the eastern shore of Lake Como, with the city of Lecco visible below along the waterfront.

Panoramic view of Lake Como from above, with Monte Coltignone on the right and Lecco spreading along the lakeshore.

The city of Lecco and Lake Como seen through a gap in the forest trees, with mountains visible in the background.

Looking up through the forest canopy on the hillside above Lecco, with sunlit green leaves and branches against a clear blue sky.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/basilica-sant-andrea-vercelli Photography: Basilica di Sant'Andrea https://fantinel.dev/photography/basilica-sant-andrea-vercelli Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:29:30 +0000 This basilica was built in 1227 (though the cloister in the picture was rebuilt in the 1400s), and has largely stayed the same since then.

Taken in Vercelli, Italy.

Photo taken on Saturday, 18 Apr 2026

A big medieval-looking tower stands tall over the cloister of the basilica, seen through an ornate archway.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/misty-lake Photography: Misty Lake https://fantinel.dev/photography/misty-lake Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:39:23 +0000 Misty day in Colico, Italy.

Photo taken on Sunday, 01 Mar 2026

Wooden posts float atop the grey waters of a lake, reflecting the fog above it.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/sunken-mountain Photography: Sunken Mountain https://fantinel.dev/photography/sunken-mountain Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:36:19 +0000 The lake at night is just a soothing as it is eerie.

Taken in Lecco, Italy.

Photo taken on Saturday, 28 Feb 2026

The lights of a city at night and the shadow of the mountain behind it are perfectly reflected in the dark waters of the lake.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/snow-day Photography: Snow Day https://fantinel.dev/photography/snow-day Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:31:35 +0000 A very cool way to spend the afternoon, just 30min away from home. Lots of kids and dogs playing in the snow!

Taken in Piani Resinelli, Lecco, Italy.

Photos taken on Saturday, 07 Feb 2026

An open area full of snow and people playing on it. There's an alpine village a bit further ahead, and in the background there's the snow-capped Alps. The sky is partly cloudy.

A fallen tree in the middle of the snowy forest.

Dry trees amidst knee-high snow. The sky is very foggy.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/st-peter-church-in-gramado Photography: St. Peter Church in Gramado https://fantinel.dev/photography/st-peter-church-in-gramado Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:20:17 +0000 Downtown Gramado is proof that something can be both overrated and incredibly beautiful. Nothing beats it on a rainy winter night.

Taken in Gramado, RS, Brazil.

Photo taken on Friday, 20 Jun 2025

Beautiful stone cathedral with really nice lighting. Cloudy skies in the background

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/cozy-house-by-the-lake Photography: Cozy house by the lake https://fantinel.dev/photography/cozy-house-by-the-lake Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:17:40 +0000 Araucárias are my favorite tree. They are charming, look very unique, and their seeds make for amazing winter food.

Taken in Nova Petrópolis, RS, Brazil.

Photo taken on Friday, 20 Jun 2025

Real pretty house among araucaria trees, standing tall in front of a lake. The sky is cloudy

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/umbrellas Photography: Umbrellas https://fantinel.dev/photography/umbrellas Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:13:31 +0000 Taken on a very cute little street in Nova Petrópolis, RS, Brazil.

Photo taken on Sunday, 17 Aug 2025

Photo taken from below of a street covered by colorful umbrellas and light bulbs, woven beneath the roofs. It’s night time

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/paçoquinha-on-the-beach Photography: Paçoquinha on the beach https://fantinel.dev/photography/paçoquinha-on-the-beach Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:08:48 +0000 She was both terrified of the sea and ecstatic about the sand.

Taken in Arroio do Sal, RS, Brazil.

Photo taken on Friday, 21 Feb 2025

A dog walks on the beach, with the sunset in the background.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/mont-blanc-goats Photography: Mont Blanc Goats https://fantinel.dev/photography/mont-blanc-goats Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:28:00 +0000 When I saw this lighting I really wanted to try capturing it, and I think it turned out just right 👌

(I did see real mountain goats around there, but the ones in the picture are just props)

Photo taken on Tuesday, 30 Dec 2025

Daytime picture of mountain goats in the snow, with the Mont Blanc mountain in the background. The sky is beautifully lit by the setting sun.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/sunset-in-varenna Photography: Sunset in Varenna https://fantinel.dev/photography/sunset-in-varenna Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:42:56 +0000 Really proud of the lighting in this one.

Photo taken on Saturday, 06 Dec 2025

Shot of the blue lake waters slightly lit up by the last rays of sunlight of the day.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/varenna Photography: Varenna https://fantinel.dev/photography/varenna Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:42:56 +0000 One of the many incredible places surrounding Lake Como, in northern Italy.

Photo taken on Saturday, 06 Dec 2025

Picturesque medieval-like italian village on the shore of a huge blue lake. The houses are very colorful and there's a lot of pine trees on the slope. A small boat floats on the lake, and in the background sit the snow-capped Alps.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/flow-from-the-grotte Photography: Flow from the Grotte https://fantinel.dev/photography/flow-from-the-grotte Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:33:18 +0000 Always wanted to take a long exposure shot like this, with the water all smooth and fluffy. Taken just downstream of the Grotte delle Busserailles near Cervinia, in Italy.

Photo taken on Saturday, 20 Sep 2025

Daytime picture of a river running in the middle of the woods. The river is full of rocks and the water has a smooth appearance caused by the long exposure shot

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/first-snow-of-the-season Photography: First snow of the season https://fantinel.dev/photography/first-snow-of-the-season Mon, 24 Nov 2025 14:50:57 +0000 The snow made the Resegone Mountain even more picturesque than usual.

Photo taken on Friday, 21 Nov 2025

Snowcapped mountains slightly obscured by clouds, with a gray sky. Some houses appear on the foot of the mountains.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/swan-in-lake-como Photography: Swan in Lake Como https://fantinel.dev/photography/swan-in-lake-como Sat, 22 Nov 2025 19:33:00 +0000 This swan was kind enough to pose around for a bit, even with the (very) cold wind.

Photo taken on Saturday, 22 Nov 2025

A swan swims around in the blue waters of a lake. In the background, snow-capped mountains and a blue sky.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/sunset-in-bellagio Photography: Sunset in Bellagio https://fantinel.dev/photography/sunset-in-bellagio Sun, 09 Nov 2025 17:28:21 +0000 Sunset in Bellagio, Italy.

Photo taken on Saturday, 01 Nov 2025

A large ferry crosses a calm lake at sunset, with soft golden light reflecting on the water. In the background, mist and clouds drift around dark mountain slopes, while autumn leaves frame the top of the image. The atmosphere is peaceful and slightly moody, evoking the quiet transition from day to evening.

]]> https://fantinel.dev/photography/leccos-bell-tower Photography: Lecco's Bell Tower https://fantinel.dev/photography/leccos-bell-tower Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Bell tower of St. Nicholas’ Basilica in Lecco, Italy.

Photo taken on Saturday, 08 Nov 2025

]]>