Discover what to do in Val Liona: the Gargati festival, the Campolongo trail, the church of San Martino. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Val Liona?
The municipality of Val Liona borders to the north with Brendola, to the northeast with Zovencedo, to the south with Orgiano, to the southeast with Sossano, to the east with Zovencedo, Villaga and Sossano, to the west with Sarego, Lonigo and Alonte.
The Gargati festival
The Gargati festival takes place every year in November. The 2022 edition was held on 12, 13, 19 and 10 November in Spiazzo di Val Liona.
As indicated by the name of the event, the highlight of the festival is Gargati, a type of fresh pasta similar to macaroni made with durum wheat semolina and soft wheat. Particularly exquisite with ragù and with consiero, this prized quality of pasta is certified De. C.O. (municipal denomination of origin) because the wheat used to prepare it is grown right in Val Liona.
There will also be appetizing grilled meat dishes to pair with slices of grilled polenta and sandwiches filled with top-quality cold cuts.
If you are wondering what to do in Val Liona and are looking for events to make the most of the autumn season with wine excellence, craft beers, live music, and mouth-watering gastronomic specialties of the Vicenza tradition, attending the Gargati festival will be a memorable experience!
The Campolongo trail n° 54
The starting point of the itinerary is the parking lot of the Parish Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle in Via Campolongo, 10, 36040 San Germano dei Berici (VI). Leave the facade of the lovely place of worship to your left and proceed along Via Campolongo passing by the stone arch that gives access to the picturesque rural village. At the bell tower, take the gravel side road flanked to your right by a long rustic building, to your left by a dry stone wall, rows of fig trees and white willows behind which stretches a lush vineyard.
Follow for about 700 meters the road that goes into the pleasant and silent rural landscape of Val Liona until you reach the rusty gate of a quarry covered by a thick layer of ivy. Turn left into the winding farm track that winds between a vineyard and a dense hedge of acacia trees.
At a stone ruin devoured by invasive plants (45.37621606281028, 11.489624234776569), take the trail that climbs zigzagging along the wooded side of the hill.
At this point (45.37858992458212, 11.493601627655426) take the path to your right, in a southeast direction.
During the hike you can enjoy spectacular views of the enchanting valley marked by cultivated fields enclosed by the lively slopes of the Berici hills.
After contemplating the formidable panorama of green wooded reliefs from the top of the hill, follow the route in a northeast direction leading to Via Monte della Croce. Reaching a house and a farm building (45.38522749432136, 11.49737630408173), continue north crossing the sunny slopes dotted with pale olive trees with knotted trunks until you reach a crossroads. Keep right, venture into the serene woodland landscape and at this point (45.38728405133703, 11.505409419307657) turn left and follow the itinerary that heads west passing through bright clearings until you emerge near the Capitello della Madonna (45.38882059203012, 11.494890073962813).
Turn right, proceed for 550 meters and turn left into Via Campolongo. Follow for about 1 km the downhill road that will lead you back to the church of Saint Andrew the Apostle.
If you are wondering what to do in Val Liona and are passionate about hiking, the Campolongo trail will guide you into the fairy-tale and timeless atmosphere of a natural oasis ideal for those who want to breathe clean air to their lungs’ content, find refuge from traffic noise, and admire breathtaking landscapes.
The church of San Martino
Located at Via Chiesa, 1, the church of San Martino is distinguished by an elegant facade horizontally divided into three sections. On the ground floor, six fluted Ionic half-columns flank a massive portal surmounted by a curved tympanum.
Flanked by volutes, the central sector is marked by Ionic pilasters between which open four single-lancet windows adorned with statues of saints.
Completing the vertical development of the structure is the large semicircular pediment resting on the architrave bearing the inscription TURONISQUE S. MARTINO EP. DICATUM.
