The 10 Best Hiking Trails in Province of Vicenza, Veneto

Reviewed By ICooksey54 - Bridgwater, United Kingdom

This walk is a hidden gem. It forms part of the Cima Palon mountain and the infamous Pasubio World War 1 battlefield. Before undertaking this I would suggest reading a little about the events that took place here between 1916 and 1918 to understand the significance of what you will experience. The area consists of high Alpine Mts, approx 6000 feet / 2000ms above sea level and on the southern fringes of the higher mts of the Dolomites. Although you will see many Italians wandering around the area in trainers and shorts be aware that it is a remote high mt environment and that in August it can turn very challenging with low visibility, thunderstorms and snow. Without mountain awareness and some basic skills of map reading and mountain safety it might get very unpleasant. There are very steep drop offs the Galleries path and in the tunnels you definitely need to have a head torch or phone with good light to pass through. Equally on hot days you will need sun cream and plenty of water as the route and descent require you to probably do 16 -20k with 2000m of ascent and descent across limestone mts where there is no water. There is a cafe at the start abd a mountain hut with drinks, meals and beds at the end of the road but still 1 hour below the summit of the Cima Palon. No climbing experience is needed or special kit but the climb is steady and relentless and on stony mule pathway consisting or rocky limestone ledges or gravel. There are significant vertical drops off the southern side of the Gallerie route and the easiest descent by the Scrirubbi Road, an easy but long walk back to the start. It will be a six hour day for sure. Mt Biking on the Tunnel route is NOT allowed but there are plenty of alternatives around and given the fact that it is battlefield and a sacred site in Italian history (plus a number of fatalities from bikers falling from the route) I would recommend that this is respected. There is also a Via Ferrata which starts near the tunnel entrance and follows the crest of the mountain ridge to the Refugio. Up above the Refugio lies the trenches and battle scars of the conflict where the Italian First Army halted the attack of the Austrian Hungarians at the Italian Tooth in 1916. There is a small chapel and ossuary cemetery high on the stony mountain with the remains of 5000 dead of both sides plus small walled area which are full of the scars of war, boots, barbed wire, bullets and shells etc. This is not the manicured battlefields of France but genuine very moving landscape untouched since 1916. It gives an all together different experience. The tunnel route was built over 9 months by the Italians so they could get supplies to their soldiers on the frontline as their original supply route ( the Srcirubbi Road) was easily shelled from the Austrian frontline and could only be used in the dark and with great difficulty. Once you realise the significance of what you walk along and the efforts that went into sending men to their deaths, the whole experience becomes far more than a mountain walk It is an astonishing and moving piece of mountain engineering and history and worth the time and effort to get there. It is in a remote location SE of Rovereto off the Paso Pasubio. There is a small parking area free to use as you first arrive or you can follow the road up to the start of the 52 Tunnels where there are now 2 large car parks where you will need to pay to park. There is also a small cafe complex at the start of the walk. It is a long slow drive to get there and an early start is recommended. It is not suitable for large motorhome based transport. Enjoy