Mountain people are special. Some are very attached to their roots and traditions, never leaving their homes, not totally open to new-fangled ideas, but only because they are reluctant to change the life they know and love. Some fly the nest and move to the city, because work prospects are scarce around here, but never forget where they came from. And then there are the ones who fly from the nest, come back, fly away, come back……..they have to go, but they also have to stay….
Rachele Moglia is one of the latter kind; 29 years old, born in Anzola – a village way up outside Bedonia, nestled amongst rocks, fields and rivers. A cool haven during the summer months, a harsh and daunting corner of the world in the winter, Anzola is not the easiest place to live in, but Rachele, a pretty, dark-eyed, dynamic young lady with a passion for photography, sees her surroundings through loving, appreciative eyes. Her studies began in Parma with a 3-year course in economics and marketing, after which, feeling the need to develop a creative trait, she went on to study for another 3 years as a graphic artist in the publicity sector in Florence. Here, even though she could count on hospitality with her tuscany -born grandmother, the urge to be amongst her mountains was too strong to ignore, and Rachele would travel to and fro as often as three times a week, just to be home. Whilst still in the area, she attended a course in photography, which took her artistic talent to a new level, and gave her the input to begin immortalising the magnificent nature around her.
It is therefore no surprise to discover that one of Rachele’s favourite pastimes is trekking, even on her own. Whenever she has some free time, she climbs mountain tracks, reaching considerable heights, and combines her two loves – photography and…Home sweet Home! Snow doesn’t bother her one little bit; on the contrary, a dramatically white backdrop gives her photos that special touch, and if you consider that two of her favourite haunts are Mount Penna – a mere 5600 feet – and the Tomarlo pass, more than 4900….. the effect is totally stunning! And it is for this reason that, amongst similarly appreciative folk and admirers of her work, she has earned herself the nickname “La Donna di Montagna” – The mountain woman.
Rachele spends weekends working in a café at Ferriere, another mountain town in the neighbouring province of Piacenza, whereas weekdays are dedicated to activities related to her hobby, which in the meantime has also become a freelance job. She has been called upon many times to lend her expertise both to Parma agencies and for local work, one of the latter being a consortium comprising the Taro and Ceno valleys, born with the purpose of launching our beautiful territory, as far afield as America.
This young lady is the perfect person to be showcasing her beloved surroundings, because no one more than Rachele can put passion into whatever it is she is framing, be it mountains, town people at work or at play….this is not only due to her love of mother nature, but also thanks to the fact that she considers herself very lucky to live here. City stress, traffic, smog, absence of human contact have no appeal for her whatsoever. As mentioned earlier, sometimes it is necessary for her to go, but it is ALWAYS necessary to come back to her little nest in the mountains….Rachele feels that mountain people are still hanging on to old-fashioned values, respect for the elderly and for each other; real friendship and folks who are there for one another. Everyone knows everyone else in these small villages, have probably been around them their whole lives, so it’s only natural that the empathy and connection should be deep and meaningful. We agree with Rachele, and when we see the incredible photos which carry within them, and easily convey, the essence of her love for her homeland, we cannot help but think – mountain people really are special.