The best traffic-free bike rides around San Nazario

Valstagna is a historic town in the province of Vicenza, today the capital of the scattered municipality of Valbrenta, located in the suggestive setting of the Valsugana valley. Perched along the right bank of the Brenta river, it is nestled between the waters and the imposing rock faces of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni (Seven Municipalities Plateau). The town has inextricably linked its history to the Republic of Venice: for centuries it was an important centre for timber floating, with wood being sent from the mountains on rafts to the shipyards of the Venetian Arsenal. This ancient tradition is revived every summer in the famous Palio delle Zattere (Raft Race). Valstagna is an ideal destination for lovers of sport and nature: it is an international benchmark for kayaking and rafting on the Brenta, it hosts the famous natural complex of the Grotte di Oliero (Oliero Caves) and it is the starting point of the Calà del Sasso, a historic staircase with 4,444 steps that climbs up to Asiago.

The Rialto Bridge of Valstagna is an important infrastructural work located in the municipality of Valbrenta, in the province of Vicenza. Crossing the Brenta river, this bridge historically connects the inhabited area of Valstagna, on the right bank, to the hamlet of Carpanè and the SS 47 of Valsugana, on the left bank, representing a vital hub for local traffic and for cycle tourists on the Brenta Cycle Path. Recently, the structure has undergone a radical restoration and safety intervention, which concluded with its reopening in the summer of 2025. The works, worth over one million euros, have made it possible to repair the damaged parts, widen the roadway, and create a protected pedestrian walkway. A spectacular LED lighting system has also been installed, which colors the bridge during historical events such as the Palio delle Zattere.

To try, besides MTB. Excellent fun activity that can be done with family and children.

Grappa peak with a 360° view

Col Fenilon is a green, rounded hill rising among the Colli Alti, offering a splendid 360° panorama, even better than the more famous (and lower) Col Moschin: the view extends over the plain, Bassano and the Brenta Valley, the Asiago Plateau, the Lagorai, Mount Grappa, and, on the horizon, the Dolomites. During the First World War, the Colli Alti del Grappa (including Col Fenilon and Col Moschin) were a crucial and extreme point of Italian resistance defending the plain. In June 1918, they were conquered by the Austro-Hungarians, and later retaken by the Italians in a lightning-fast and legendary action. The name derives from "buon fieno" (good hay), due to the excellent mountain pastures it has provided for centuries.

The former Guarnieri power plant, named after its then-owner, was built in 1907 on the banks of the Brenta River. It occupies part of the former industrial area of the Brenta Valley, which included a spinning mill, a tobacco warehouse, and a paper mill. The disastrous flood of 1966 severely damaged the plant, bringing it to an end. Today, the site of the power plant is considered a site of industrial archaeology and is one of the most prominent buildings in the Valstagna.

Valstagna was once an important river port and trading center for timber transported from the surrounding plateaus.

Looking for a great culinary break? Pizza, draft beer, and excellent Tyrolean cuisine. Be warned, it gets very busy on Saturday and Sunday evenings; you can also order takeout pizza. About a hundred meters to the left, next to the parking lot, is a nice bar (Al confine) open early for breakfast.