Park in the square Piazzale degli Alpini (Alpini square), near the church of Rovolon. Dedicated to Saint George, the church is documented in 1077, but the origins could go back to the VII-VIII century.
Walk down via San Giorgio (San Giorgio Street) towards Bastia, after about 100 meters go uphill to the left towards via San Pietro (San Pietro Street). (1)
About 400 meters from the starting point, on the right you will see a small niche in a chestnut tree stump that hosts a Madonna, continue climbing.
At the top of the climb you will be rewarded with the wonderful view of opening up. (2)
As soon as you reach the plateau, take the dirt path to the left towards the hill; then, entering the wood, turn right. You will be surrounded by a vegetation that, being exposed to the north, is characterized by locust trees, chestnut trees, elder trees and oaks.
The path here will get steeper, on the top of the climb you will find a bench, perfect for a rest.
Here you can observe a truly remarkable variety of plants: medlar, ash, oak and many other undergrowth plants such as strawberry tree, heather and many others. A few meters after the bench you will see a path starting on the left (path of Monte della Madonna n ° 17).
Your trail instead continues upwards towards the right. After about 150 meters you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view that opens up at the southeast. (3)
Proceeding along the path, you can observe many prickly pearsand, in spring, you can enjoy the blooming flower. The trail will finally reach the church of Sant’Antonio Abate. (4)
At this point you will find Monte Altore just in front of you. Proceeding along a challenging uphill path you arrive at a rocky terrace from which you can admire a wonderful panorama of the area. After about 100 meters, in the direction of Fiorine, take the path marked with number 1, that leads you to the top of Monte della Madonna. Continuing towards Fiorine we cross a wood of oaks and hornbeams on an almost flat path. Once in Passo Fiorine, take an almost flat path that heads towards Monte della Madonna and enter the wood after about 50 meters, keeping Baita Passo Fiorine to the right.
From this point, on clear days, you can see Bastia, and all of the plain north of the Euganean Hills with Berici Hills to the west. Looking to the north, you can see the Castle of Montegalda and the Venetian Prealps higher up, whileon your right you go up towards Monte Grande. About 200 meters from the Baita (lodge), the path forks: take the branch to the left, the one on the right would lead you down to Rovolon. About 500 meters from Passo Fiorine, near a light pole, you will reach a panorama that is worth stopping for.
About 15 minutes from Passo Fiorine you will come to a true crossroad: continuing straight you head towards San Pietro; turning left you would be taking the path that climbs to Monte della Madonna; yet if you turn right, you will be walking down to Rovolon following the old road named “del cantiere” (of the yard), built in the 1950s. This path will lead you back to the chestnut tree stump housing the Madonna mentioned at the beginning of this itinerary. From here, proceeding to the right, you return to Rovolon Church and to the starting point.
NOTES:
(1)Just on the right, you will see an ancient village called "Gheto dei capeani", perhaps the oldest in Rovolon. Further on, towards the north, you can see Villa Ottavia, an ancient Benedictine settlement and, in the background, the town of Bastia. Further to the right, you can see Monte Viale in front of Monte Sereo and then Monte Spinazzola and Frassanelle. Going up along the paved road, on the left is the esplanade named "Momi" or “Toni Ceramica”, embellished by a large group of ancient “Maronari” (horsechestnut trees).
(2)Chiesetta di San Pietro (Little Church of San Pietro), now used as a wine cellar, probably dates back to even more ancient times than the main Church of Rovolon (which in 2001 celebrated the 500th anniversary of its foundation).
(3)In the background you can see Monte Venda and just in front of you Monte Altore; slightly to the righti n the back you will see Monte Vendevolo and further to the right, isolated, Monte Lozzo. From this point, on particularly clear days, you will be able to see the Apennines.
Turning your gaze to the right, you can see the Berici Hills. Here you can finda variety of plants, such as prickly pears, which are particularly unique to our hills. Zovon is the town nearest to us while further to the left, there is the small village of Vò and Vò Vecchio on its right. This area is in the Municipality of Teolo. Because of its southern exposure, there is more sunlight and the vegetation is much less abundant.
(4)The church is called "Sant’Antonio Porseeto". The word “porseeto” in local dialect means “little pig”. The church was given this name because in the official iconography of Sant’Antonio a little pig rests at his feet. Here you can admire a deep natural cave with a small springat its bottom, home tonewts.
Trail time: about 2 hours
Difficulty +++
