Trail 41 of the Berici Hills – Lonigo Mountains

A pleasant excursion just outside the historic center. The hills of Lonigo also offer numerous surprises to those who love nature and wish to rediscover the human-environment interaction in today’s reality and through the traces of the past.

What to see

The historic center of Lonigo;
Villas, convents, churches, shrines, springs, fountains, naturalistic environmental aspects, the landscape, and flora.

Recommended equipment and clothing

Sturdy shoes with non-slip tread sole, backpack;
Wear long pants; the rest of the clothing must be appropriate for the season;
Bring some water and food;
Bring a topographic map, compass, first aid kit, mobile phone with useful phone numbers.

Trail 41 Details

Car parking Castelgiuncoli, Post Office, Viale della Vittoria, Sma Simply Supermarket

Starting point on foot Piazza Garibaldi

Technical difficulty None (easy route); suitable for people in good physical and mental health

Route length 8.5 km

Elevation gain and loss Approx. 100 m

Travel time Approx. 3 hours

Route description

along the route

Observation Points

Piazza Garibaldi (Historic center of Lonigo)

(1)

Departure on foot from Piazza Garibaldi (1). Walk along Via Garibaldi, which still represents the medieval structure of the ancient village within the old castle. On both sides of the street, under the arcades, there are typical shops.

Monumental entrance to Villa San Fermo - Villa San Fermo - Park outside the Cappuccini gate

(2) - (3) - (4)

Continue along Via Ognibene, cross the road, and you will find yourself in front of the monumental entrance of Villa San Fermo (2). Proceed uphill along Via Carlo Ridolfi. After a few dozen meters, turn left and go up Via San Fermo; advance along a small cobbled road and, a little further on, you reach the main entrance leading inside the property and to Villa San Fermo (3).
We are now in the recently created "Ai Cappuccini" park (4), commissioned by the Municipal Administration of Lonigo with the aim of making this area, which until recently was heavily degraded, welcoming.

Priabonian rock outcrops - Former Capuchin convent and Church of San Bonaventura - Santa Colomba - Caper plants

(5) - (6) - (7) - (8)

Now take the pedestrian path that follows the paved road. At the first bend, you can observe outcrops of sedimentary rocks belonging to the Priabonian period (5); a little further on, on the right, you pass near the skateboard park for youngsters and a small open-air amphitheater. Climb a few concrete steps, keep left, and take a characteristic soft stone staircase: you thus arrive in front of the entrance to the Church of San Bonaventura, the Capuchin convent (6), and San Colomba (7) (until recently the church and convent were abandoned, they are now being restored).
On the boundary wall of Villa San Fermo, there are numerous caper plants (Capparis spinosa) (8), a plant that prefers arid, hot, and sunny environments.

La Rocca Pisana

(9)

Continue further along the pedestrian path and, after a short while, positioning yourself under a large Hackberry tree (Celtis australis), you can enjoy the view of the Rocca Pisana (9).
The villa is located on the almost rounded peak of the mountain, whose profile slopes gently towards the plain between rows of hedges and terraces once cultivated. Proceed along a flat stretch, passing in front of the entrance gate leading to the Rocca Pisana, with a niche shrine embedded in the wall of the large arch housing the image of the Madonna.

View of the alluvial plain, Vicenza and Verona Lessini Mountains, and the Venetian Prealps - The Berici Hills Winery

(10) - (11)

Proceed for a few meters and the view opens majestically towards the alluvial plain below (10); further away, the territory of the Vicenza and Verona Lessinia, with the mountain ranges of Monte Baldo, Monte Carega, Sengio Alto, Pasubio, Monte Novegno, Pria Forà, the Plateau of the Seven Communes (Asiago), and, further to the right, Monte Grappa in the background.
From this point, you can also see the Berici Hills winery (11). On the right, above the earth embankment, the fence delimiting the Rocca Pisana property is formed by a vegetable barrier, among whose plants the Maclura pomifera is of interest, a thorny plant that produces strange non-edible fruits.

The cross on Casa Dal Grande - Geological aspects

(12) - (13)

Continue until the right-hand bend: on the left is Casa Dal Grande in the Cenghia locality (12). On the wall of the house facing the street, a wooden cross is embedded, placed there by the Dal Grande family to protect the house from the disastrous Allied bombings during 1944. The crucifix had its effect: the house emerged undamaged. After the bend, continue straight on the paved road, going around the Rocca mountain.
A little further on, at the shrine erected by the Pasqualotto family (13), turn left and immediately left again, entering a beautiful coppice wood of European hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) via a path. Further on, you cross a dirt road that leads from the former Trattoria alla Rocca to the Grotte di Sarego locality.

The forest, the undergrowth, and the orchids - The karst plateau and the sinkholes - The palace

(14) - (15) - (16)

Follow the dirt road uphill (14) (in this stretch, at the edges of the road, orchids bloom in spring), pass the right-hand bend, and immediately on the left, you can see a small sinkhole (15).
Now proceed straight, leaving the dirt road and following a field path that leads to a palace. Arriving in front of this building (16), you can discreetly observe the old well, the exterior of the building, and the adjacent structures.
From this point, proceed to the left relative to the arrival path, following a nearly flat country lane in a beautiful and relaxing environment. After a right-hand bend, climb a little and shortly after you cross a natural rock road connecting Balestre to Monte Bandiera. Here you can make some observations on the spontaneous Mediterranean flora. Also at this point, numerous species of orchids (Orchis morio and Orchis tridentata) can be found in spring.

Soil improvement and land reorganization at Cà Longhe - Cà Longhe

(17) - (18)

Keep right, descend for a few meters, and continue almost on the flat. To the left, you see a large plot of cultivated land (17) surrounded by the forest: it is one of the many land reorganization improvements carried out on the Berici (the rocky part is extracted and then everything is covered with fertile soil, ready to be cultivated).
A little further on, you arrive at Cà Longhe (18), (a cluster of houses, rustic annexes, and other structures, recently restored).

Contrà Sandri at Monte Bandiera - The covered well of Triestini Soldà at Monte Bandiera

(19) - (20)

Continue further along the dirt road, enter a beautiful forest, and shortly after you reach the road connecting the Acque locality to Buso della Giaretta. Cross the road, take the dirt road on the left that continues until you reach Contrà Sandri at Monte Bandiera (19). The building is of modest size, complete and functional (house, cellar, stable, barn, porch, and rustic annexes). After passing Contrà Sandri, proceed downhill and, shortly after, on the right, before arriving at Contrà Trestini Soldà, you can see a characteristic covered well (20), built by residents at the beginning of the 20th century. A few meters further down is the characteristic Contrà Trestini Soldà, recently restored (the shrine on the road, built with overlapping stone blocks, is very charming).

Tuff outcrops - Contrà of Via Monte Bandiera - Acque di Lonigo locality, the fountain and mineral waters

(21) - (22) - (23)

On the opposite side of the contrà, adjacent to the road, tuff outcrops (21) (eruptive material produced by volcanic eruptions in a submarine environment) are clearly visible. Paying attention, just after passing Contrà Trestini Soldà, turn right (trail 41 sign) and proceed along the edge of the vineyard until you reach a clearing.
Pass it, cross a path, follow it to the left and immediately after to the right. A little further on, you reach the contrà of Via Monte Bandiera (22).
After a brief stop to observe the architectural complex, continue along the dirt road and, after a left-hand bend, you reach the intersection with the road connecting the Acque and Botteghino localities. Turn right and continue along the paved road. A little further on, turn right and, after about twenty meters, you reach the Acque di Lonigo fountain (23).
The fountain is private property and is currently in a state of deep degradation and neglect: for its history and the place where it is located, it deserves more attention and respect. Here, until a few years ago, there were large poplar trees, which have now disappeared. However, a large Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), mulberry trees (Morus alba), and Hackberry trees (Celtis australis) are still present today.

Via Scaranto Sordina - Volcanic breccia outcrops

(24) - (25)

Continue uphill for a while and, before the hairpin bend, turn left and descend along Via Scaranto Sordina (24). To the left, a bit further down, you can see the area of an old clay quarry now reclaimed with the addition of fertile soil. Then follow a somewhat rough natural rock road, where volcanic breccias embedded in the tuff outcrop (25).

The cross of Monte Oselliera - The Convent of San Daniele - The Corrubbio

(26) - (27) - (28)

Variation: following a barely visible small road on the left, you climb to Monte Oselliera (26) where a cross was erected in 1913, first in wood and then replaced with iron to commemorate the Edict of Constantine which liberalized Christian worship in 313.

Returning to the small road of Via Scaranto Sordina, continue descending until you cross the road that climbs from Lonigo to the Acque locality. Cross the road and continue straight until you reach the Convent of San Daniele (27); here we recommend a visit to the church. From the square of the Church of San Daniele, you can admire the Rocca Pisana, Villa San Fermo with the church and the Capuchin convent, and the Corrubbio (28).

Via San Daniele - Niche shrine in Via San Daniele

(29) - (30)

Continue along the main road, pass in front of the shrine of Saint Anthony, descend a little, and follow Via San Daniele (29), a residential area built in the years 1955-60.
Halfway along the street, on the right, there is a niche shrine (30), with a crucifix and two wooden statues inside. Proceed, pass Via San Francesco, turn left, and re-enter the historic center.

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