Discover what to do in Zimella: a walk along the Guà River, the ancient sawmill and Bertolaso mill, the Church of St. Florian the Martyr. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Zimella?
The municipality of Zimella borders to the north with Lonigo, to the south with Cologna Veneta, to the east with Lonigo and Cologna Veneta, to the west with Arcole and Veronella.
Walk to Sarego, Zimella and Cologna Veneta
The starting point of the itinerary is the parking lot of the Church of St. Florian the Martyr in Piazza Don U. dalla Valle. You can also leave your car in the nearby parking lot on Via Garzan.
If starting from the church parking lot, head north on Piazza Don U. dalla Valle, leaving the sawmill and Bertolaso mill on your right. Keep right until you reach the old iron bridge over the Guà River; cross it and turn left onto the Zimella-Bagnolo cycle path.
The path winds along the grassy banks of the watercourse, offering enchanting views of the rural Zimella plain, punctuated by lush vineyards, cornfields, long avenues of plane trees, cypress poplars, and dotted with charming farmhouses and rustic buildings immersed in greenery.
After about 2.5 km, you will find Villa Pisani Bonetti on your left, a jewel of Palladian architecture facing southeast towards the sinuous course of the Guà.
Past the villa, descend the riverbank and keep left on Via Terre del Guà. After about 110 meters, leave the bridge on your left. A little further on, take the asphalt cycle path that follows the winding bends of the watercourse, from whose privileged position you can enjoy a wide-ranging view of the Vicenza countryside and the urban center of Lonigo. After 3 km, leave the cycle path and turn right until you reach the entrance of the Lonigo fair park.
Continue north along Via Cesare Battisti for 500 meters, then turn left onto Via del Macello. At the intersection with Terre del Guà, turn left. After crossing the bridge, turn right onto Via Bonioli and take the ramp on your right that leads to the cycle path.
The path continues for 2.5 km along the Agno stream and the Brendola River, whose banks are covered with poplars, acacias, lush shrubs, and many other tall trees.
At the intersection with Via Roma, you can turn right and then take the cycle path on the left that continues north along Terre del Guà in the shade of thick woodland vegetation.
Continuing north, the itinerary skirts the village of Sarego and continues towards Meledo and Rocchi.
Ancient sawmill and Bertolaso mill
Located respectively on Via Giovanni da Zimella and Piazza Don U. della Valle, the Bertolaso mill and sawmill are two of the most significant historical and cultural landmarks of the municipality, separated by the course of the Guà River.
Founded at the beginning of the 20th century on a pre-existing building, the milling complex rises three stories and is crowned by a double-pitched roof. Internally illuminated by elegant single-lancet windows with lowered arches, the mill was used for grinding flour and semolina.
Operational until 1970, this fascinating example of industrial architecture, splendidly preserved, stands opposite another majestic structure, initially used as a sawmill and later as a plant for grinding sulfur. A particularly interesting element is the soaring rectangular-based tower incorporated into the building, which rivals in height the bell tower of the nearby Church of St. Florian the Martyr.
The Church of St. Florian the Martyr
Recognizable by its splendid 19th-century neo-Gothic facade, the place of worship is accessible via a loggia punctuated by three pointed arches. In the center of the front, five mullioned windows open, also marked by ogival arches. The splendid building is crowned by elaborate spires underlined by a motif of hanging arches.
