Weeping Stone of Niclara

Water drops continuously from the rock known as Regenstein, that’s to say Rain Stone (in German), or Pietra Piangente (in Italian), a 10 m high and 55 m wide boulder between Niclara, a component locality of Magrè, and the village itself. The constantly dripping of water creates formations of tuff and calc-sinter - deposits of minerals in the water - around the rocky knoll. Especially in winter, the water turns into stunning ice formations which sparkle in the sunlight.

There are fascinating legends and myths ranking around the Weeping Rock. One of them tells that the water came from the tears of a castle owner who has lost his daughter. The princess was bewitched and locked up in the stone. Only every 100 years, she is allowed to appear in order to find the one who is able to rid her from the curse of witchcraft.

By the way: Also one of the most common and widely diffused ferns, the maidenhair fern or venus hair, grows on the Weeping Stone. The 6 km long hike from Niclara (Entiklar) to Penone and further on to Magrè leads in 2.5 hours past the Weeping Stone and past the ancient domestic vine which dates back to 1601 AD, the second natural monument of Magrè on the Wine Road.

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