The best running trails around Valstagna

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.

The Eremo di San Bovo is a gem nestled among the hills of Bassano del Grappa, a place where spirituality meets breathtaking nature. Perched at about 330 meters on Monte Costa, it offers a privileged view of the entrance to Valbrenta and the Vicenza plain. The current structure, rebuilt in the 90s on the remains of an ancient settlement, stands in an area frequented since the Iron Age, as evidenced by enigmatic Rhaetian graffiti on the surrounding rocks. To reach it, one follows paths immersed in the woods starting from Sant'Eusebio, often combining the walk with a stop at the nearby Cascate del Silan. It is an ideal destination for those seeking silence and history, walking among ancient stone walls and remains of trenches from the Great War, under the protective gaze of San Bovo, patron of livestock.

bridge comfortable but pay attention because the bottom is iron grating and extremely slippery when wet

A simply wonderful place, easy to reach from the Carpanè-Valstagna station, following a well-marked path along the Brenta River. The staff was equally fantastic, allowing us to follow the cave tour in both Italian and English (part of my group didn't speak Italian). I recommend going in spring; it's cooler and there's usually less traffic, so you can enjoy it all better. ;)

Very characteristic village north of Bassano in a very narrow part of the Valbrenta

Wonderful view of the old town!🤗

Col d'Asiago offers a beautiful and privileged panoramic point on the underlying Canale del Brenta, or the narrow and deep terminal part of Valsugana. But the view extends over the Asiago Plateau and the entire skyline of mountains that border it to the north, the Grappa Massif to the east and the mouth of Val Brenta. In the distance, the Piccole Dolomiti, the Pale di San Martino and the Vette Feltrine. Precisely because of its strategic position, during the First World War it was a strongly armed Italian defensive bastion and decisive in various phases of the conflict. The peak is also known locally by the ancient and dialect toponym 'Col del S-ciavo', dating back to the time of the Serenissima: on the slopes of the hill in fact the 'schiavoni' (i.e. the non-Latin inhabitants of the dominions of Dalmatia and the Venetian hinterland) cut wood for the naval fleet; the trunks (especially beech trees) were lowered down the valley through the famous and nearby Calà del Sasso; they were then loaded onto rafts that went down the entire Brenta, until they reached the lagoon and the Arsenale of Venice. A large concrete cistern dominates the summit, collecting the water pumped from the Oliero Caves, 1000m further downstream, and distributing it to the Plateau.