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The pathway
You can walk down Fontanelle street toward a small chapel and take the right in direction of Mount Piccolo; the first stretch is paved and slightly uphill, then, surrounded by the countryside, it goes along the south-eastern sides of Mount Piccolo with no differences in altitude, among wide olive tree plantations. The vegetation changes as the path goes around the hill, reaching the northern side, where the wood alternates to the scrub vegetation. The path goes down to Ventolone street, across the small town of Corte Vigo in a green valley, and right after you pass Calto Callegaro it goes up to the Orbieso Mount, a running crest that separates the Valsanzibio valley.
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Near the top, a short deviation takes to the remains of the Santa Maria di Orbise convent (330 metres). A short downhill stretch and you’ll end up on the paved road from the pass of Roverello down to the small chapel of Saint Anthony; from here you’ll go up again, along the dirt road which reaches the top of Mount Fasolo. From there you can enjoy a beautiful view of the extensive vineyards in the south; when the main road starts to go down you’ll take the path on the right, down to a vineyard; if you follow the signs you’ll enter a thick chestnut wood and then go up to the top of Mount Rusta (401 metres). The next downhill way takes you to the saddle, where the short deviation to Villa Beatrice on Mount Gemola starts. Going forward, you’ll descend to the Pissarotto Fountain and from there you’ll leave the road that goes to Valle San Giorgio, to take the path on the left to the Muro quarter, to an ancient washing basin where you can have a break.
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From there you can go left along Correre street and up to the ridge of the Marlunghe, a typically dry place in this area of the Euganean Hills. The slope ends in a wide square, go through it and turn right, take the paved road which borders the vineyards in direction of Arquà Petrarca; after 300 metres you can take another small road on the right (Marlunghe street) and then turn left on a dirt road which, going down with narrow hairpin bends nestled between vineyards and olive trees, takes you to Valleselle street. The road enters the town, through the house of the poet Petrarca, and ends in the small square next to the SS Trinità oratory.
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Not to be missed
• Arquà Petrarca: we recommend a visit to this village, in particular the Francesco Petrarca’s house, where he lived his last years, his tomb and the churches.
• Valsanzibio: the garden of Villa Barbarigo.
• Villa Beatrice on Monte Gemola.
• The avenue with almond trees,next to the Farm of Monte Fasolo, is in bloom at the beginning of the spring.
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Characteristics |
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Departure point:
Arquà Petrarca |
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Height difference:
1000 m |
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Average travelling time:
5 h |
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When:
in the springtime, when the brushwood is in full bloom, or in the autumn for the colours and the soft lights. The winter offers wonderful charm, too, especially when sprays of snow make the scenery nearly unreal. |
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Degree of difficulty:
zero, but the itinerary requires a fairly good training due to its length and the total difference in height. Some deviations allow a reduction of the length, and the return to Arquà Petrarca through a shorter route. |
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