The
starting point, where to leave the car,
is Casa Marina at Sotto Venda in the
town of Galzignano Terme, a rural house
used as visitors centre and as the
Hills’ Park lab of naturalistic
education.
Start walking along the“white” road that leads
to the Rifugio Re del Venda. After about 350 m
take a path on the right and start going up.
Along the route you’ll cross other paths (the
Lorenzoni, the Monte Venda) therefore you’ll
have to pay attention to the directions. The end
of the path at the beginning is quite stony, but
as you gradually go up and enter the woods, it
becomes earthy. As you climb the vegetation
becomes thicker among beeches, chestnut trees,
robinias and elders.
In the more humid areas of the undergrowth you
can observe some salamanders, with their
typically black skin dotted with yellow spots,
or some small and harmless slowworm. In the warmer and drier areas you can
find
the surely bigger black
columber, locally known as “scarbonasso”.
A harmless snake that can reach the length of 1,5 m.
After about 1 km upwards at a crossroad the path takes
you rapidly down from 500 m to 450 m and goes up just as
rapidly. After the last short slope you'll reach the
scattering of ruins from which you can enjoy a wonderful
view to the South-East.
The first documents that mention the
monastery date to 1197, but the founders
are thought to be two Benedictine monks
belonging to Santa Giustina (Padua) who
in 1207 climbed the hill and,
“sponsored” by some local nobles, built
the lodgings and the church dedicated to
San Giovanni Battista. After 1300 the
monastery went to the order of the
Olivetans who, under the patronage of
the Carraresi family, enlarged and
embellished it. In 1771 the Republic of
Venice abolished the monastery by
transferring the monks and therefore
caused its ruin.
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