Itinerario n. 251 CAI - Dorsale media della Lessinia

Departure: Campofontana (1222 m) / Minimum altitude: 137 m / Maximum altitude: 1221 m

Total kilometers: Approximately 37 Km - It is the hiker’s task to divide the route based on their physical abilities and needs.

Total time for the journey: Approximately 11 hours and 30 minutes

Elevation gain: 1090 meters

Difficulty: E - hiking

Affected municipalities: Selva di Progno - Velo Veronese - Roverè Veronese - Bosco Chiesanuova - Erbezzo - S.Anna d'Alfaedi - Dolcè

Recommended period: April - November

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Long route discovering some of the most interesting villages of Lessinia, rich in history and traditions, along ancient mule tracks and paths that lead from Campofontana (Selva di Progno) to Peri (Dolcè). Prepare to discover sacred art, with crosses, columns, paintings, and frescoes of this region.

The starting point of the route is at Campofontana (1222 m). Follow the paved road towards Selva di Progno passing through contrada Pelosi, where you can see a small column depicting the Madonna from 1650. Continue until you reach a mule track heading north and follow it until you reach contrada Gauli, where you can see two frescoes on the facade of a house, a Crucifixion and a Deposition. Reach the provincial road to Giazza* (m. 759 - 1 hour 20 minutes).

*From here the European Path 5 passes and the Alta Ridge, path no. 250 begins.

Leave the village square and descend a path alongside the church, cross the bridge over the Revolto stream, and follow the road that runs alongside it heading south. Cross contrada Ferrazza, with its beautiful painting of the "Madonna dei sette dolori," and shortly thereafter, in front of a small chapel, take the path that leads to contrada Franchetti and contrada Parlatoni. Continue on the ascending mule track until you reach some pastures where the path rises along the back of a ridge for about a hundred meters before re-entering the forest, remaining quite steep. At the end of the forest, reach Pozze and join the white road that leads to contrada Battisteri. Follow the paved road for about 500 meters until reaching contrada Tecchie, where it intersects with itinerary 253 leading to contrada Cuniche (m. 1,190 - 1 hour 40 minutes, total 3.00).

The road continues westward passing near the famous Covolo di Camposilvano and the Geopaleontological Museum, reaching Camposilvano with the nearby wonderful Valley of the Sphinxes.

Continue towards San Francesco (m. 1,101 - 30 minutes, total: 3.10), pass through the village and follow the paved road to Valdiporro. Shortly after the cemetery, take a path on the left that leads into the woods and descend into the Val Squaranto (m. 870 - 30 minutes, total: 4.10). After reaching the valley floor, ascend on the opposite side passing through contrada Sponda di là, until reaching Valdiporro (m. 1,068 - 40 minutes, total: 4.50). On the west side in front of the church, descend a stone staircase and follow the mule track first to contrada Cenise di Sotto and then to Cenise di Sopra. Follow the path through the meadow leading to Bosco Chiesanuova and reach the square (m. 1,104 - 30 minutes, total: 5.20).

Head towards the ice rink and, at the first fork, turn right where, with a steep descent, you reach the contrade Tasi, Stopeli, and Turban. Cross the meadow towards the northwest and follow, at the edge of the forest, the path that descends into the Vaio dell'Anguilla. From the valley floor, follow the route of the European Path 5 which emerges in the square of Erbezzo (m. 1,118 - 50 minutes, total: 7.00).

Follow the European Path E5. At the end of the avenue, at the Bernardi Dairy, take a left on a mule track that crosses first the road to Castelberto and then, at Faggioli, the road to Passo Fittanze. Descend passing through the localities Villa and, after crossing the road to Fosse - Sant'Anna, continue descending on a mule track that enters the woods. Descend slightly into the Vaio dei Falconi and, upon reaching an opening, the path climbs to the right passing over some overhanging rocks. Reach contrada Cimo, cross the provincial road and descend to contrada Casella, returning to the provincial road near Barosse. Turn right towards Fosse and, just before the village, a gated mule track with stone slabs leads to the village center, where path 250 connects (m 941 - 2 hours 30 minutes, total: 9.30).

From the village of Fosse, near the fork for Breonio, follow a paved road leading to contrada Michelazzi. Continue on the mule track which, crossing the meadows, heads towards Cornetto Semalo where it enters the woods and, descending, crosses the paved Fosse-Peri road four times. On the fourth crossing, follow a paved road until reaching the lifting plant of the aqueduct. Continue on the path and cross the road another six times. On the sixth crossing, cross the road passing under a bridge and reach the village of Peri, the final point of the itinerary (m. 137 - 2 hours, total: 11.30).

HOW TO REACH THE DEPARTURE POINT:

- by private means: A4 motorway, exit Montebello Vic., continue on SP 13, cross Arzignano and Chiampo, proceed on SP 43 and reach Vestenanova, continue on SP 17 for San Bortolo delle Montagne and Campofontana. Alternatively, exit A4 Soave, travel Val d'Alpone passing through San Giovanni Ilarione, Vestenanova, San Bortolo delle Montagne, and Campofontana.

- by public transport: from San Bonifacio: bus 226 (https://www.atv.verona.it/orari_linee_bus_extraurbani)

Itinerary described in collaboration with Lorenzo Comunian.