Discover what to do in Alonte: trail 45, the cave of the mills, the church of San Biagio. Do you want to know more? First of all…
Where is Alonte located?
The municipality of Alonte borders to the north, west and southwest with Lonigo, to the southeast with Orgiano, to the east with Val Liona and Orgiano.
Trail 45
The starting point of the route is the parking lot in Piazza Savina near the parish church. Proceed southwest, leaving to your right a lovely stone church with a double-pitched roof, on top of which stands a small bell gable.
Cross the small bridge over the Alonte stream and proceed along the path flanked on the left by soccer and five-a-side football fields, on the right by a lush vineyard. Continue for about 350 meters keeping left until you reach, after a slight uphill, Via Pozzetto (45.36253891160358, 11.4231230052394). Cross the road and follow Via Pozzetto for 400 meters, then take the path to your right that leads to the church of San Michele Arcangelo in the locality of Corlanzone.
The place of worship features a simple gabled façade framed by two white pilasters supporting the architrave. In the center of the front, above the massive wooden door, stands a circular opening. Inside, the church is adorned with splendid frescoes. Another architectural feature of value is the bell tower, crowned by an elegant crenellation supported by corbels.
Proceed northeast along Via Corlanzone and Terre del Guà. At the intersection, turn right onto Via Corlanzone and continue for about 80 meters. Take the narrow staircase to your left that leads to Via Molini. Cross the pedestrian crossing and turn left. After about 50 meters, turn right and go up Via Castel Bricon.
After passing a small group of houses, take the path to the right that goes into the lush forest vegetation and leads to the crossroads with Via Casara Roveri (45.3746011736452, 11.430943750148884). Cross the road and continue for 200 meters along the dirt road enclosed by a hedge (in which some tree of heaven and field maples can be distinguished) and a well-tended vineyard, then keep right and follow the route as indicated by the appropriate signage (45.375385301392015, 11.433020823220309).
At the intersection (45.37737011102629, 11.435386382586845), turn right and proceed southeast until you reach Via Toare. Turn left and go along Via Toare for 400 meters, then turn right and resume the route in the shade of a row of cedars and cypresses. Take the path to your left that winds through cultivated fields and wooded hedges until you reach Via Cavecchie (45.37809526329439, 11.444582853638423).
Turn right and go along Via Cavecchie for 350 meters, then turn right and proceed southwest along Via Colombello and Via Molini for almost 3 km. At the intersection with provincial road 11, turn left and continue for 750 meters until you find, to your right, the church of San Biagio.
If you are wondering what to do in Alonte and you are passionate about hiking, this route is ideal for those who want to explore a peaceful location surrounded by greenery and admire enchanting hilly landscapes.
The cave of the mills
Hidden by the grassy surface of winding sun-drenched sinkholes, the cave of the mills extends 670 meters into the karst depths of Alonte. Discovered in 1940 by Gastone Trevisiol, the largest hypogean labyrinth of the Berici hills is accessible via a claustrophobic muddy tunnel that slowly widens and branches into spacious galleries, venturing into which one increasingly feels the flow of streams feeding crystalline pools and the roar of gushing waterfalls echoing in the caves encrusted with fossil treasures, from which a shark tooth has emerged.
Illuminated by beams of electric light, the concretions formed in the dense darkness over millions of years recall sharp fangs of threatening legendary creatures, petrified tentacles and swollen dripping roots, grandiose columns of mausoleums from unknown eras, icy plants and flowers that bloomed before the appearance of man.
The church of San Biagio
Located at Via Roma, 10, the place of worship features a white staircase leading to a tetrastyle Ionic pronaos crowned by a dentiled triangular pediment.
The massive wooden door of the neoclassical church gives access to the large circular hall, in which large niches with round arches house precious marble altars and vivid paintings. Notable is the white tabernacle with golden reflections that reproduces a classical temple in miniature, flanked by kneeling angels. Overlooked by the large metal dome, a solemn atmosphere invites silence and serene contemplation of the treasure chest of sacred works illuminated by the oculi that open in the magnificent circular-plan structure.
If you are wondering what to do in Alonte, the church of San Biagio is one of the most significant cultural and spiritual landmarks of the municipality.
