Discover what to do in Castelgomberto (VI): the festival of San Fermo, Palazzo Barbaran, the love bench and the military road. Want to know more?
Where is Castelgomberto?
The municipality of Castelgomberto borders to the north with Malo, to the north-east with Isola Vicentina, to the north-west with Cornedo Vicentino, to the south with Montecchio Maggiore, to the south-east with Sovizzo, to the south-west with Trissino, to the east with Isola Vicentina, Gambugliano and Sovizzo, to the west with Cornedo Vicentino, Brogliano, Trissino.
The festival of San Fermo
The commemoration of the martyrdom of San Fermo takes place on August 9th, but the celebration in honor of the saint also takes place in the days before and after this date. In 2022, the festival was held from August 5th to 9th at the church of San Fermo in Via S. Fermo, 10.
An unmissable appointment for food lovers, in the large dining areas you can enjoy specialties of traditional Vicentine cuisine, from succulent grilled steaks to fish specialties with slices of grilled polenta.
If you are wondering what to do in Castelgomberto and want to spend the beautiful season in the pleasant setting of a charming rural village nestled among wooded hills, with local food and wine excellence, dancing evenings and breathtaking fireworks, the festival of San Fermo is an opportunity not to be missed!
Palazzo Barbaran
Set in the urban center of the municipality at Via Villa, 26, the main building of Palazzo Barbaran is now the town hall and represents, together with Villa da Schio and Villa Trissino, one of the most significant historical-cultural landmarks of the municipality.
The south-east facing façade of the main building, dating back to the 15th century, is accessible through a sumptuous arched wooden door flanked by two windows with crowning cornices. On the main floor, three balustraded windows open, the central one culminating in a lunette concluded by a keystone depicting a striking mask. The top floor is marked by large quadrangular windows rhythmically interspersed with five columns and two half-columns.
Facing Via Villa, the west façade presents on the first floor two windows with white parapets surmounted by arched tympanums resting on corbels.
On the second floor, two windows flank an ancient fresco. Concluding the vertical development of the front is the triangular dentilled pediment crowned by three statues.
The north façade, facing Via Monte Pasubio, features evocative single and double trilobed lancet windows in Venetian Gothic style.
The love bench and the military road.
The starting point of the panoramic itinerary is the parking lot in front of the war memorial, erected on a grassy mound dotted with cedars and cypresses next to the parish church in Via IV Novembre (45.58607502018808, 11.394844516101168).
Proceed north along Via IV Novembre for 130 meters, then turn right into Via Castello. After just under 40 meters, turn left and take the winding lane flanked by a terraced hilltop bordered by white stone walls from which pale olive trees, flowering ornamental shrubs and magnolias emerge.
The path winds for 750 meters until it reaches Via Pederiva. From Via Pederiva continue uphill for about 90 meters, then take the path to your right, bordered by a dry stone wall topped with tiles and surmounted by a wooden handrail.
The walk continues east along the side of the hill for 220 meters, leading to the love bench. After passing a rustic building, continue northwest for 950 meters until you reach a small group of houses near an olive grove (45.59664415551807, 11.395266151530041), then turn right. The path continues along the wooded crest of the lush hills for 2.1 km, going through towering poplars until it emerges onto Via Palù. Turn right, then turn left into Contrada Carletti.
Unless there are prohibition signs, follow the military road Carletti-Valdilonte for 2 km until you reach a hairpin bend (45.6133450752386, 11.411611449447818). Descend along Via Valdilonte for 3.1 km, crossing the plain marked by cultivated fields framed by wooded slopes. At the intersection, leave the pretty white church on your right and proceed along Via Regina Pacis for 450 m.
Turn right into contrada Pendina. After 210 meters, turn left and follow the mtb trail that runs alongside a hill covered with woodland vegetation until it emerges onto provincial road 35 (45.58622051796051, 11.40335415029722). Turn right and proceed for 280 meters, then turn right into Via Bocca. Follow Via Bocca for 450 meters until you return to the parish church.
If you are wondering what to do in Castelgomberto and are passionate about hiking, this pleasant path offers spectacular wide-ranging views of the radiant hilly panorama of the heart of the Vicenza area.
