Discover things to do in Piovene Rocchette: the Chiesa dell’Angelo, the Sentiero dei Girolimini, the Sagra del Grumello, the Percorso ciclopedonale ex ferrovia Rocchette. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Piovene Rocchette?
The municipality of Piovene Rocchette borders to the north with Cogollo del Cengio, to the northeast with Caltrano, to the northwest with Velo d’Astico, to the southeast with Zanè, to the southwest with Santorso, to the east with Caltrano, Chiuppano, Carrè and Zanè, to the west with Velo d’Astico and Santorso.
The Chiesa dell’Angelo
The Sentiero dei Girolimini
The Sentiero dei Girolimini winds through the fairy-tale woodland vegetation that covers the slopes of Monte Summano. Below are listed four starting points, from the nearest to the farthest.
Parking 1: Via dell’Angelo
The parking lot is located in the immediate vicinity of the route, a large square in front of the Trattoria dell’Angelo.
Parking 2: Via Ceriotti
The entrance of the town hall, at Via Libertà, 82, is on your right. Take the road on the right slightly uphill, Via Ceriotti, and proceed for about 90 meters until you reach the parking lot.
Parking 3: Birreria Vecia
A small stone wall separates the parking lot in Via Lavrena from a playground behind which splendid poplars, lindens, plane trees, and horse chestnuts tower on a grassy hillock and shade the tables of the Birreria Vecia.
From Via Lavrena, take Via Ospizio and continue northwest along the cobbled street that passes under a pretty window with a parapet through a short gallery covered by a round arch that crosses the village and leads to Via dell’Angelo.
Parking 4: Parco Vittoria
You can leave your car at the serene green area dotted with Atlas cedars among whose silvery crowns rises a monument bearing the inscription “DI QUI NON SI PASSA… PIOVENE ROCCHETTE AI SUOI GLORIOSI CADUTI” on which stands a bronze sculpture of a man with a stern face turned to the mountains, making a peremptory gesture of stopping with his left hand. In the other hand, stretched along his side, he holds a blade.
At the base of the monument appear the figures of a mother with an exhausted face embracing her young son, depicted standing with his right arm outstretched to show some rosebuds.
Proceed south along Via Libertà, leave on your right the neoclassical facade of the church of Santo Stefano, rhythmically punctuated by four Ionic half-columns. Reaching a two-story house, distinguished from the adjoining houses by the elegant entrance formed by three white arches above which stand the remains of an ancient fresco, turn right onto Via dell’Angelo and follow about 2 km of asphalted uphill road that winds from the picturesque building among acacias, poplars, elms, and hornbeams, leading to the Chiesa dell’Angelo.
The Girolimini excursion and the Chiesa della Madonna dell’Angelo
The start of the route is located at the Chiesa della Madonna dell’Angelo, a charming 15th-century place of worship characterized by a front divided into three parts by four pilasters on which rests the triangular pediment. Inside, it houses a centuries-old wooden statue of the Madonna.
With an elevation gain of more than a thousand meters, the path is punctuated by wooden and packed earth steps of a mule track covered in autumn with a thick layer of golden leaves. In the shade of the thick tree cover, the road is immersed in a deep, intense silence broken only by elusive chirping, an atmosphere of almost unreal quiet for those accustomed to the noisy background and bustle of big cities.
What makes the winding and steep route even more fascinating are the spectacular panoramic views glimpsed through the tree foliage that thins out to leave room for vast grassy expanses from which you can embrace with your gaze the plain dotted with tiny houses wrapped in fields and dark hedges that fade away into the horizon.
The summit of Monte Summano is crowned by an elaborate metal cross made by Giorgio Sperotto in which Jesus Christ, smiling and shining on sunny days, breaks the millennial symbol of the cross with his right arm raised to the sky in a sign of greeting, an image in which pain, hope, sacrifice, courage, vigor, and serenity, apparently in contrast, coexist harmoniously.
The Sagra del Grumello
The Sagra del Grumello takes place every year from August 29 to September 11 at the parish church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Via Monte Pasubio, 47.
Located at the foot of the majestic mass of Monte Summano, the area in front of the church is set up with large stages for performances by musical groups, from talented bands that will make you rock out to the sounds of timeless rock hits to traditional orchestras for dancing the liscio, as well as exciting choreographic dance shows.
In the dining areas, you can savor delicious dishes made with top-quality products, from exquisite truffle risottos to fish specialties like avannotti, tasty river fish particularly flavorful when breaded and fried or prepared in saor, that is, seasoned with wine vinegar, raisins, pine nuts, and a pinch of salt. There will also be the classic and irresistible panini oni, rich in quality cold cuts that will make your mouth water.
If you are wondering what to do in Piovene Rocchette and want to spend moments of fun and carefreeness with wild dances and rivers of beer to cool off the warm summer evenings, participating in the Sagra del Grumello might be just right for you!
The Percorso ciclopedonale ex ferrovia Rocchette
After leaving the car in the parking lot at Parco Vittoria (alternatively in the nearby Piazzale degli Alpini), take Via Forziana and continue along Via Preare for about 600 meters, skirting Monte Summano.
Once you reach Via Alessandro Rossi, keep left and follow the cycle path for 150 meters. Cross the pedestrian crossings and follow the path indicated by information panels that goes into the swaying branches of flourishing acacias. The cycle-pedestrian route winds for 10 km to Arsiero, following the direction of a 19th-century railway line from which you can enjoy breathtaking natural views, from the bridge that connects the banks of the Astico with a large arch, to the lively Posina stream, as well as the splendid peaks of Cengio and Cimone, linked to significant moments of the First World War.
