The best walks and hikes around San Nazario

Rifugio Alpe Madre, located at 1,270 meters on the Grappa Massif in the municipality of Solagna, is an excellent destination for those seeking authentic contact with the nature of the Veneto region. Nestled in the pastures of Colli Alti, it offers a suggestive panorama ranging from the Asiago Plateau to the Dolomite peaks. The structure is famous for its traditional cuisine, characterized by genuine dishes such as homemade gnocchi and polenta with mountain pasture cheeses. Easily reachable from Campo Solagna via the scenic Strada delle Penise, the refuge is a landmark for hikers, families, and snowshoeing enthusiasts. In addition to catering, it offers overnight accommodation in a rustic atmosphere, making it an ideal base for exploring the historic sites of Col Moschin and Col Fenilon.

Continuing across the large meadow you will find a rocky spur with a view of the Valbrenta

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.

Col Moschin is a bare, green, and rounded hill offering a splendid view of the Brenta Valley below, the Asiago Plateau opposite, Mount Grappa, the Lagorai Mountains, and all the way to the Dolomites! During the First World War, on June 15, 1918, Col Moschin was the scene of a brilliant and lightning-fast assault by the Arditi of the 9th Assault Regiment, who in just 10 minutes retook the peak from Austro-Hungarian hands, effectively halting the imperial advance toward the plain. For their valor and heroism, the current 9th Col Moschin Parachute Assault Regiment, an elite corps of Italian special forces, is named after them. The hill is still marked by the scars of trenches and shell holes. Here, as at other crucial points of the conflict scattered across the Alpine foothills, an authentic column from ancient Rome was erected after the First World War, donated by the capital as a lasting reminder of the Austro-Hungarian army's deepest penetration (and thus of Italy's extreme and heroic resistance). This video from the Viribus Unitis channel offers a fascinating and detailed account of the events (thanks to the authors for permission to link): https://youtu.be/26yrq9M0_gw?si=aI1NoOyae0IVybNm

View of the meadows near the top of Col del Feniol and the valley.

Trail in the Pian Castello area

Col della Berretta (1,448 m) is a grassy ridge that connects the locality of Finestron to Monte Asolone. Here there is a pyramid with a plaque that reports the bulletin of the supreme commander (General Diaz) of 27 November 1917, in which the acts of heroism performed by the infantrymen of the Aosta brigade to repel a mass attack by enemy forces are cited.

Mount Asolone, in the Venetian Prealps, is one of the main peaks of the Grappa massif. At 1,524 meters above sea level, it offers suggestive views that range from the Po Valley to the Dolomites. During the First World War, the mountain was the scene of fierce fighting, and today it preserves numerous historical testimonies, such as trenches and walkways. Today it is a popular destination for those who practice hiking for its panoramic and easily accessible paths.