The 9 Most Amazing Peaks around Marostica

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.

This large concrete tank pumps water from the springs of the Oliero Caves, thanks to an aqueduct that exceeds 1000m of altitude, and then distributes it throughout the Asiago Plateau: up here in fact the territory is karst, so it does not retain the water that flows downstream through underground passages... practically the same water from rain and snow that naturally flows from the summit, is artificially made to rise out of necessity! The current aqueduct and tank were built on the traces of a system already built during the First World War, to overcome the primary problem of water supply to the Plateau, which presented itself in all its gravity during the conflict, both due to the exponential growth in the number of men present at altitude, and due to the dispute over the few springs by the opposing adversaries. Considered by many to be a horrible structure, for me it is a suggestive, totally detached brutalist architecture, positioned in a natural and uncontaminated environment: a fascinating contrast!

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.

Crazy view on the Bassano valley

Croce col fenilon

The large cross of Col del Fenilon (1327 m) is in memory of the fallen and heroic deeds that characterized these places during the First World War. From here the view is truly magnificent. You can admire in one fell swoop the plain up to the sea, the Brenta Valley, the Asiago Plateau and the Grappa peak.

Very beautiful, challenging climb, with a couple of sections where the slope becomes more difficult. The roadway is narrow at times and with the addition of weekend traffic there are some situations in which to pay attention

It's a trail with huge potential, if only it were better maintained. One of my favourites. It is very suggestive and the slopes are easily practicable. What makes it difficult to walk on are the stones, which, unfortunately, are dangerous, more downhill than uphill. If it were fixed it could have the potential to facilitate ascent/descent into Grappa on foot, rather than by car. I hope it gets fixed in the not too distant future!