itinerary 2 - BADIA CALAVENA
The natural and cultural beauties of Badia Calavena
Badia Calavena is a unique place, characterized by many peculiarities. This is a transition area from hill to mountain, and has an ancient abbey with an exceptional historical and cultural value, as well as many typical hamlets, districts and rural courtyards. This cycling itinerary will allow you to go up the eastern side of the Val d’Illasi, up to the panoramic Monte Pecora with its iconic wind turbine on the top. Then, you will descend to Sprea, a village known for its curative herbs. You will return to Badia on the valley cycle path.
Cycling route
Technical data of the route
17 km
DISTANCE
+650 m
Elevation Gain
POINTS OF INTEREST
The abbey of Badia Calavena
Badia Calavena owes its name to its ancient abbey, which kept for centuries a great religious and governmental importance in Val d’Illasi. A first archaic structure was built on Colle di San Pietro in the 11th century, and then, in the early 15th century, the abbey was moved at the bottom of the hill, where most part of the cloister is still visible today.
Colle di San Pietro and Museo della Selce
The Colle di San Pietro and the Museo della Selce in Badia Calavena offer spectacular views and valuable historical evidence. The hill offers enchanting views, while the museum reveals the ancient art of flint work. A visit that combines beauty and culture.
Windmill on Monte Pecora
This is the first wind turbine installed in Veneto. It is a plant built in 2008 and subsequently expanded in 2012, capable of producing around two million Kwh per year, 10 per cent of which goes to the municipality of Badia Calavena.
Sprea and Don Zocca's officinal botanical garden
Sprea is a mountain village, about 900 metres above sea level, immersed in the nature of the Lessinia Park, in the municipality of Badia Calavena (VR). It is a small locality between Val d'Illasi and Val d'Alpone. Here many medicinal herbs grow wild and many popular sayings about plants run through these mountains. Don Luigi Zocca was a parish priest with a passion for medicinal herbs and an innate desire to help his neighbour. He began to devote himself not only to the care of people's souls but also to the health of their bodies by spreading knowledge about the use of medicinal herbs.
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All itineraries, technical information, insights and points of interest on La Dorsale della Storia and the Vecia Via della Lana.