ROUTES IN SANT'AMBROGIO DI VALPOLICELLA
walking in Valpolicella
THE FOUNTAIN VILLAGE PATH
Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella
The path starts in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II where the local market takes place on Sunday mornings and where, in the past, large wagons gathered, carrying the stone from the nearby quarries to the yards and the ports on the Adige river. The stone was loaded onto the "burchio", a boat that sailed downstream and returned upstream pulled by oxen or horses along the towpath or cavallara.
An imposing stone staircase in seregna stone leads upwards from the square to the town hall. The frescoes on the building depict the points of interest of the town and the surrounding hamlets and a nursing Madonna (mural painting from the 14th / 15th century). At the base of the staircase is the monument to the Stonemason, recalling the history of the stone workers.
On the rear side of the Town Hall the road has been restored "Via Lastrari" referring to the stone slabs (lastre) quarried locally, leads to the Romanesque church of San Zeno in Poia (12th century), surrounded by cypresses and with a wonderful view of the Valpolicella valley. Returning down towards the town, you come across the Old Fountain, a charming oasis of peace with its stone seats under a huge secular plane tree.
A narrow lane between two high stone walls leads down towards the historic town centre, which preserves some ancient houses, such as the 15th century Casa Panteo with its portico and wooden balcony, hidden courtyards, arches, gates and niches dedicated to the Crowned Martyr Saints, patrons of the marble workers, and to the Madonna. Further down, before reaching the square and the parish church, you reach the Villa Veneta (historical Venetian Villa) Brenzoni-Bassani with its virtual wine museum and park, an imposing centuries-old cedar and numerous sculptures by local and internationally renowned artists.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE IN ITALY PATH
Locality of San Giorgio di Valpolicella
The village, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, lies on stone and is also made of stone. The Lombard-Romanesque church stands majestically on the square with its bell tower, cloister, chapter house and museum "Antiquarium".
The Pieve (Baptismal Church) is the oldest in the province of Verona and the Village has over time been a strategic religious and administrative centre.
A few routes start and arrive in San Giorgio. From Sant’Ambrogio you can reach the Pieve square by following a narrow road that starts behind Villa Brenzoni-Bassani and climbs through the Coali vineyards up to the stone staircase set in the rock. From the square you can reach the Via Crucis of the stone masons, majestic stone books describing the Calvary of the stone cutters in the course of their emigration throughout the world.
Continue onwards to the Fountain of Caranzano, passing through the Porte neighbourhood. You will then reach the old ruins of Gilda’s House. Descend through the grove, keeping slightly to the left, and emerge at the spectacular panoramic point overlooking the entire plain below. The path then returns to the Village passing near the Monument to the Stone Cutters, who tragically died in 1927, and the nearby fountain.
THE AMARONE VILLAGE PATH
Locality of Gargagnago
There are several paths that start in the Village, renowned for the production of Amarone wine, leading to the Vajo (valley) de l’Armaron, to the hills of Traversagna with its olive groves and vineyards, to the pine forest and through the village courtyards and ancient buildings around the parish church and in the Monteleone neighbourhood.
In Gargagnago there are important historical residences, such as Villa Serego Alighieri, where the descendants of the great poet Dante Alighieri still reside today.
THE VILLAGE ON THE ADIGE PATH
Locality of Ponton
The path here winds along the Adige river. It is the ancient towpath or cavallara, used since Roman times and until the beginning of the last century. Merchant barges were towed by horses or oxen from Verona and the Adriatic Sea or to the northern provinces.
Having lost its function, the path today offers pleasant walks immersed in a generous vegetation. Shortly after the departure from the parking lot of the Ponton cemetery, the descent towards the village is flanked by the walls surrounding Villa Nichesola, a Venetian Villa of considerable interest (the Villa can be visited only by reservation). A little further on you reach the towpath and walk southwards along the Adige.
After a few kilometres you leave the river path and turn up to the left, returning to the starting point following narrow lanes through cultivated fields.
THE VILLAGE OF THE FORT PATH
Locality of Monte
Monte is a historic village with its ancient courtyards and stone houses, located on the southern slopes of the Pastello Mountain. Its position has always been strategic, but especially so in the mid-1800s, when the Austrians, who governed this part of Italy from 1815 till 1866, built four forts to protect the passage to the Adige Valley, including the Fort of Monte or Fort Mollinary (now inaccessible).
The Fort towers above the Chiusa (natural lock) of Ceraino and is connected to the town of Monte by a military road.
Today this district is still strategic for those who want to descend towards the Adige Valley or to climb up Mount Pastello or even, as this itinerary suggests, appreciate some points of interest. Starting from the Parish church square, after three hundred meters you will reach a bottleneck: turn into the narrow road on the left which rapidly descends among vineyards, olive trees, cherry trees, woodland spots and former quarries of Rosso Verona and Nembro marble.
When you reach the road that once led to the quarries, turn right, go up leaving Fort Mollinary on the left and pass by the old wash house, where in the past women used to gather to do their laundry. From here it is advisable to follow the track downloadable with the QR code, taking into account that from here onwards the paths lead through the woods and return to the village square, passing through the Calcarole neighbourhood.
THE PATH OF THE STATION VILLAGE
Locality of Domegliara
From the central square of Domegliara, home to the local Wednesday market, you go along the main road of the town towards the station and take the cycle path in Via Sotto Sengia.
After about 2.5 kms, leave the cycle path and go up the hill by a steep track that will take you past the La Grola Ca’ Verde, where people practice rock climbing, and the sengie, a series of steep crags typical of this part of the territory. Immediately after, you leave the historic farmhouse Cà Verde on the left and go up to the Grola, the former provincial sanatorium, where there is a panoramic point. The area is surrounded by vineyards where the Recioto della Grola is produced, and rocky cliffs where Rosso Ammonitico marble is quarried.
The road then gradually descends towards the village and towards Villa Rovereti-Zurla, a Venetian Villa now transformed into a private residence with a park and swimming pool, located at the foot of the Montindon hill. Leaving the Villa on the right you return to the starting point, passing in front of the parish church.
A special thanks to the Running Group of Gargagnago and to all citizens, associations and groups who have taken care of our historical and natural heritage with love and dedication.
