We travel because we want to enrich our knowledge, our experiences. We want to see places that we would only usually see on the screens of our phones or computer. But that doesn’t have to be the case. I know you are already itching to go out of isolation to travel and be free. So, when you’re ready, here are a few destinations you could go to to relax and have fun!
Colle San Giorgio
Maser is a commune located in the province of Treviso. It is also where this breathtaking hill is located. On top of it, is an oratory dome dedicated to San Giorgio. If you look towards north west, you will be able to see Monte Grappa. Admire the flock of birds passing by on this specific route, the birds of prey and the passerines. Birds of prey can be seen from mid-August to mid-September, while for passerines the best months are October and November. Better to schedule your bird-watching activities on these dates.
To get to the Colle San Giorgio hill, start from Coste di Maser, from there you will have to drive up the steep road via San Vittore and you will arrive at a parking lot of Le Cave. You will reach the dome of San Giorgio in about an hour of hiking. Relish in the beautiful views while maybe enjoying your snack or listening to feel good music.
Colli Alti
If you want to see the beautiful lush green hills of Colli Alti, head to Campo Solagna. It is the south western sector of Mount Grappa that overlooks the deep canyon of the Canal di Brenta. In this area you will also be pleasantly surprised with a small church and hotel with a small museum of the great war which is called San Giovanni ai Colli Alti.
This walk is not only for the physically fit but it is also wheelchair accessible. Who said hiking is not for everyone? The flat road is also accessible for cars and bikes that wants a quiet and peaceful day. However, to reach Finestron, at the end of the main road is a steep ramp that may pose a challenge for those on a wheelchair. If you are up for the challenge, push yourself because the impressive view of the very deep basin of the Valsugana and of Cismon del Grappa is worth the effort. Or you may also opt to take your car up there for a more relaxing trip.
Lake Garda
The largest lake in Italy, also called Benaco, boarders three provinces namely Verona, Brescia and Trento. The northern part of the lake is surrounded by mountains of Gruppo del Baldo. On one of its five small islands, housed the monastery of St. Francis of Assisi in 1220. The fault submerged between Sirmione and Punta San Vigilio is a natural barrier that stops the merging between the water of the two zones.
Seven percent of Italy’s tourists head to Lake Garda not only for the amazing waters of the lake or the water activities you can do but also because of the many attractions nearby. They even have their very own theme park in there. A popular tourist spot in the area is Sirmione. It is an old charming town located at the end of a small peninsula where you could visit the Grotte di Catulo which is the excavated ruins of a massive Roman villa. There is also Rocca Scaligera Castle built in the 13th century for the Scaligera family.
Valle di Schievenin
The valley is located in Feltre in the province of Belluno. The rich biodiversity makes this a perfect escape from your real life. The Schievenin rock gym, which branches off from the valley towards Monte Grappa, is among the most popular in Veneto for the quality of the rock it offers climbers. It is frequently visited by climbers on training even in the winter because of its sun exposure.
To get to the perfect climbing spot, coming from the state road that goes from Treviso to Feltre, cross at the first junction. Turn left, follow it entirely until you reach an intersection with a small church in front of you, and then turn left. Now you are on the valley road and follow it until you first reach the village of Schievenin and you will arrive the cliff.
Valstagna
Valstagna is a town in the province of Vicenza. It is along the right side of the river Brenta, running along the valley of the southern rim of the Alps. In this town, feast your eyes on the architectural styles of the houses designed with a mix of Venetian-style palaces and rural hoses.
A tributary called River Oliero is a popular destination here. Along the few-hundred meter long river are caves housing springs which is called Grotte di Oliero. The main cave is dicovered in 1822 by Alberto Parolini, hence the cave being named Grotta Parolini. A few meters from the Valstagna main square is the Calieroni waterfalls. These are natural falls created by the chemical erosion given by rainfalls and by the waters of the Frenzela torrent. For the people who love museums, head to Museo di Speleologia e Carsismo. A museum about caves, speleology and the geology. There is also a vast collection of shells, sea- and fresh-water molluscs from Veneto and fossils from the Paleozoic to the Quaternary.
There are so many more activities these places have instore for you! I suggest you pack your bags and just do it! With the amazing technology we have right now, you can do almost anything from thousands of miles away. You can even do them while in any of these destinations above. Let me know if you have been in these places and tell us about them! Till our next one!