Discover what to do in Rotzo: the Sieson cave, the potato festival, the Pach waterfalls. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Rotzo located?
The municipality of Rotzo borders to the north with Levico Terme, to the northeast with Asiago, to the south with Roana, to the southwest with Valdastico, to the east with Roana, to the west with Luserna and Valdastico.
The Sieson cave
To reach the Sieson cave, you can leave your car at the Campolongo cross-country ski center in the same-named locality on Via Verenetta (45.8972413088705, 11.393330311792202). The visitor is immersed in the boundless grassy expanse of the sunny plateau surrounded by thick pine and fir vegetation, like a towering curtain wall of giant prickly crowns.
If you’re wondering what to do in Rotzo, the Sieson Cave is a splendid natural destination easily reachable via a pleasant path immersed in greenery.
The short trail proceeds south, entering the dense forest formation among large moss-veiled boulders until it leads to the spectacular chasm, whose dizzying perspectives evoke both enchantment and horror.
A coveted destination for speleologists and expert climbers, the abyssal karst belly holds an ancient ice waterfall covered by an enormous rock dome, from whose summit faint rays of light filter through.
Formed in the silence of the cold and dark fissures of the deep cave, fine ice crystals reveal to the glow of flashlights the strict geometries of a forest of needle-like crystals, hexagonal prisms, columns, and star dendrites.
The Potato Festival
The Potato Festival is held every year, except rare exceptions, in the month of August. The 2022 edition took place from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 August.
The folkloric event reconciles the heartfelt liturgical ceremonies of holy mass with the jovial atmosphere of a popular celebration featuring live music and exquisite local recipes. The highlight of the event are the potato gnocchi, to be savored with glasses of wine and mugs of beer, ideal for combating the summer heat.
The rich program also includes dance evenings with performances by orchestras and tribute bands that will reproduce timeless rock hits. There will also be magician shows, fun activities for children, and numerous exhibitors with traditional crafts.
If you’re wondering what to do in Rotzo and want to spend the beautiful season in the carefree atmosphere of a lively village event that promotes genuine products grown in a fertile valley framed by the wooded slopes of the Vicentine Prealps, attending the Potato Festival is certainly a recommended experience.
For more information regarding the dates and program of the next edition of the festival, we recommend visiting the Facebook pages Pro Loco Rotzo and Festa della Patata Di Rotzo.
The Pach waterfalls
The nearest free parking to the Pach waterfalls is in front of the town hall at Via Roma, 49. Leave the town hall on your right and proceed southwest on Via Roma until you reach the Alpino monument.
From the monument, take Via Sabaus, then turn left. After a few steps, turn right onto the dirt road where the information board for the Sentiero delle Cenge (Cenge Trail) is located.
The route involves a steep and slippery descent, very dangerous for those who do not pay the utmost attention. The effort of the hike is rewarded by the formidable scenery of a thundering waterfall dripping from harsh and damp rock walls veiled in moss, cloaked in climbing vegetation and shaded by lush beech trees, then plunging into a dark pool of icy water.
If you cannot resist the charm of crystal-clear lakes and rushing waterfalls, the province of Vicenza is full of places similar to the stunning Pach waterfalls. Some examples are the waterfalls of Arsiero, 16 km away, the whirlpool of Casotto and the Gorgo Santo in Pedemonte, 18 km away, the Civetta waterfall in Lastebasse, 25.3 km away, the Montagna Spaccata (Split Mountain) in Recoaro Terme, about 51.1 km away, the Papalini and Campodalbero waterfalls in Crespadoro, about 65 km away.
