If the conditions are right and you are in the right place at the right time, it is possible twice a year, on the 30th -31st January and the 11th -12th November to see the doppio tramonto – the double sunset viewed from outside the Duomo in Barga Vecchia.
This is when the sun drops down behind the mountains in the distance and then shines through the natural arch of the Monte Forato.
This eagerly awaited event generally draws a crowd at the Duomo as they wait for the sun to dip below the horizon, only to re-appear seconds later.
For the last couple of days there have been people waiting to catch a glimpse of the doppio tramonto as the sun edged closer and closer to the hole.
Because of the leap year this year the event falls a day earlier – 10th November and although the weather was perfect this evening the sun did show inside the natural arch of the Monte Forato but only partially maybe tomorrows view will be slightly better.
This evening many casual viewers were in evidence to watch this event but there were some veritable experts on hand including the Astrofilo Fiorentino, Leonardo Malentacchi (site here) who was in Barga again today to see for himself the phenomenon
He has been a regular visitor to Barga in November and January over the past decade as he takes his readings and photographs as part of his ongoing study of this event.
The interview with Leonardo recorded outside the Duomo in 2012