Ancient way n. 1

Ancient way n. 1
Turano - Armo - Persone - Moerna - Turano
Starting from Piazza Madonna Pellegrina in Turano, take the downhill path towards
the bottom of the valley. After crossing the river and then the main road, the path
starts uphill, crossing the main road another couple of times and taking you ultimately
to the village of Armo. The path to Persone starts near the Armo war memorial, on the
right-hand side of the road. Starting on flat ground then going gently downwards and,
towards the end, uphill, a mule track takes you to the main road which soon leads to
Persone. Go through the village to the opposite site and when you reach the main road
again you will see a roadside shrine at a bend in the road. Here, rejoin the path which
goes uphill through the woods. At 1100m altitude the path levels out and leads to an
alpine pasture where there is a mule track that takes you to Moerna in five minutes.
Go through Moerna and, on the opposite side of the village, take the unsurfaced road
which will later become a mule track and, further on, a path that goes gently downhill
and will quickly take you back to Turano, your starting point.
Itinerary:
Turano, Armo, Persone, Moerna, Turano
Estimated time:
hours 3,30
Water along the way: Yes
Ascent:
360 mt.
Practicability:
Links
Ancient way n. 2
Magasa - Denai - Rest - Cadria - Magasa
Take the path that heads north opposite Magasa town hall. In the past, this was the
way from the village to the Denai and Vott pastures. At the first fork take the road to
the right which is partly paved and partly unpaved and goes right across the Denai
pastures (watch out for the signs!) until you reach, and go past, Malga Alvezza and up
to a group of farmhouses. From here, a steep, unpaved road takes you quickly to Cima
Rest, coming out on the main road near the little church and proceeding eastwards to
the bend in the road. Now take the narrow, downhill road (south-east direction) which
comes out about 200m before the hamlet of Cadria. From this point the path starts
uphill again, heading first south-west, then northwards, and leads back to Cima Resta.
Going westwards along the main road you reach the little church where there is a view
over Magasa. At the bend, rejoin the path that goes downhill, heading southwards.
After crossing the main road, go on to the old mule track, which takes a very
attractive, gently downhill route to Magasa.
Itinerary:
Magasa - Denai - Rest - Cadria - Magasa
Estimated time:
5 hours
Water along the way: No
Ascent:
450mt.
Practicability:
Links
Ancient way n. 3
Moerna - Bocca Cocca - Bocca di Valle - Bocca di Cablone - Malga di Tombea - Cima
Rest
Although Ancient Way No. 3 is not particularly hard, it takes a long time to cover it all
(about 7 hours). So it is better to complete this hike over two days and stay overnight
in the refuge, in the Cima Rest barns or in the Moerna campsite and use the other
paths in the Valley for the return trip. The starting point is the car park near the
houses in Moerna (Valvestino) at 992m, near the S. Rocco Tourist Centre. Take the
paved road next to the cemetery (CAI trail marker no. 76). At the end of this road, go
right onto the cart road that will in about 30 minutes take you through an enchanting
beech wood and on to Bocca Cocca (1327m). An easy mule track (CAI trail marker no.
75) goes amongst the rocks and meanders of the crest, leading to Bocca di Valle
(1392m), passing close to the crown along the way. Bocca di Valle commands
magnificent vistas which, on clear days, include partial views of Lake Garda, Lake
d'Idro and the woods of the Valvestino. In just over an hour you then reach Bocca di
Cablone (1755m), where you go onto a road built for military purposes. You can see
the numerous tunnels of the army posts dug into the rock. Leaving to your right the
ruins of an old army camp and an abandoned cableway, you come out onto the grassy
plateau near Malga Tombea (1825m). A few dozen yards past the malga, turn right
(CAI trail marker no. 66) to descend through the meadows towards the Rest highland.
After about 20 minutes the cart road becomes a path and soon after goes in and out of
the brush. Army bunkers dug into the rock; trenches and strategic posts made of
brickwork or dug into the ground; see and explore the ruins of a cableway’s upper
station. Look to the north to observe what was once part of the Austro-Hungarian
empire of which the Valvestino was the border. In the distance, you will see the
mountain peaks which form the present-day border with Austria.
Itinerary:
Bocca Cocca, Bocca di Valle, Bocca di Cablone, Malga Tombea,
Cima Rest (finish)
Estimated time: 6,15 hours
Water along the No
way:
Difference in
ascent (Moerna - Malga Tombea) 833mt., descent (Malga Tombea -
height:
Cima Rest) 625mt.
Practicability:
Links
nature trail n. 1
Armo - Valle dell'Armarolo - Ponte Franato - Messane - Armo
Heading north through Armo (848m), the path to Valle dell'Armarolo immediately
enters a wood of Scots pines which includes several monumental specimens. There are
also a few big beeches, such as the one next to the bend which the mule track forms
before it reaches the ruins of an old mill and passes close to a waterfall. To the left of
the beech-tree are a number of spruces, while willow and busbear thrive in the damp
conditions along the stream’s banks. A little bridge takes you over the Armarolo
stream. At the next bridge, which is perfectly safe despite the name of the area, Ponte
Franato “collapsed bridge” (903m), there is a crossroads. The road, built during the
first world war, goes south in the direction of Denai on the other side of the valley
towards Messane. Take this road; shortly after, you’ll pass near a long cuel (an
overhanging rock used as a shelter in bad weather) that seems cut into the rock. The
landscape gradually opens out onto the mountains of Valvestino and the rural
buildings in Vott. Once you reach the wide meadows of Messane (1100m), it is easy to
descend to Persone (or go up along a track to Bocca di Valle). However, if you want to
return to your starting point it is best to take the ascending, southwards path that
branches off to the left from the rest area and passes near the shepherd’s hut. Going
uphill, the first stretch of this recently-repaired track features a number of fine
beeches, but as soon as you start the descent towards Armo (at a crossroads with an
uphill path that leads to small hut) you enter a Scots-pine wood again. The cuts visible
on some of the trees date back to the time when the locals harvested pine resin.
Itinerary:
Armo - Valle dell'Armarolo - Ponte Franato - Messane - Armo
Approximate time:
3 hours
Water along the way: Yes
Ascent:
400mt.
Practicability:
Links
Nature trail n. 2
Magasa - Denai - Rest - Cadria - Magasa
At the entrance to Cadria, take the little road that goes immediately to the left, which
first descends to the Proalio stream and then goes uphill through a shady beech wood
to the area of the same name. From here, along the northern side of the Valle dell'Era
you reach Malga della Puria di Tignale (1 hr 30 min). This shepherd’s hut was
abandoned after the war and is now in ruins. It is surrounded by a thicket of Grecian
fir (Abies cephalonica). In fact it was once the state forestry service’s habit to reforest
any pastures no longer used for grazing, but nowadays it is firmly believed that leaving
open spaces - albeit requiring costly grass-cutting operations - guarantees an
appropriate environmental mix and therefore greater biological variety. The State
Forests Authority reforested Puria in the Seventies using the Grecian fir, which up to
now has been a great success both here and in the other areas where it was planted
(Droane di Valvestino and Val di Campiglio above Toscolano). The Grecian fir (so
called because it was introduced from the mountains of southern Greece) is easily
recognised for its similarity to the silver fir, though its needles are sharply pointed and
arranged more or less all around the branchlets, while those of the silver fir are blunt
and arranged in horizontal ranks. Its presence around Lake Garda adds, as if it were
needed, a Mediterranean touch. Once you pass Malga di Puria, if you do not want to go
up to Passo della Puria there is a path that goes south to Passo di Scarpapé (1242m)
where another path leads into Valle Tignalga. Now, however, continue along the cart
road and after about half an hour you will reach Cascina Puria Nuova (New Puria
Farmhouse) which replaced the Vecchia, or old farmhouse, only to be abandoned in
the 1960s when livestock was no longer transferred every year from lowland grazing to
mountain pastures. Used as a lodge by the state forestry service, it is worth stopping
here for a while. Behind the farmhouse are a few steps leading up to a panoramic point
from which, on clear days, there is a spectacular view to the head of the valley in Val
Droanello. Take the forest path that starts the descent just below Cascina Nuova. You
go through a Scots-pine forest and reach the ruins of the Val del Porsél farmhouse,
surrounded by old beech trees (1 hr). The old waterhole was recently restored to
encourage hoofed mammals, especially deer which seem particularly suited to this
area. It is worth making a diversion that will in just a few minutes take you to Marànch
farmhouse. Behind the house, on the ridge that descends towards Val di Droanello, is
a magnificent hornbeam, together with a beech and an ash. The hornbeam’s rough,
twisted trunk testifies to its respectable age. Go back the way you came and when you
get back to the ruined Val del Porsél farmhouse take the uphill path that goes past the
waterhole and in just over half an hour you will reach the road that comes up from
Cadria and takes you back to where you started (1.30 - 4.00 hours).
Itinerary:
Magasa - Denai - Rest - Cadria - Magasa
Approximate time:
4 hours
Water along the way: No
Ascent:
400mt.
Practicability:
Links
Mountain bike routes
Itineraries for Excursions.
Mountain bike routes: the landscape.
The Park offers various possibilities of using a mountain bike at all levels. Among the
many on offer we are presenting a panoramic itinerary with a low level of technical
difficulty, which could therefore be faced by anyone who has a minimum knowledge of
using a mountain bike.
Cadria - Passo della Puria - Cascina Nuova - Cadria
At the entrance to Cadria, take the little road that goes immediately to the left, which
first descends to the Proalio stream and then goes uphill through a shady beech wood
to the area of the same name. From here, along the northern side of the Valle dell'Era
you reach Malga della Puria di Tignale (1 hr 30 min). This shepherd’s hut was
abandoned after the war and is now in ruins.
It is surrounded by a thicket of Grecian fir (Abies cephalonica).
In fact it was once the state forestry service’s habit to reforest any pastures no longer
used for grazing, but nowadays it is firmly believed that leaving open spaces - albeit
requiring costly grass-cutting operations - guarantees an appropriate environmental
mix and therefore greater biological variety.
The State Forests Authority reforested Puria in the Seventies using the Grecian fir,
which up to now has been a great success both here and in the other areas where it
was planted (Droane di Valvestino and Val di Campiglio above Toscolano).
The Grecian fir (so called because it was introduced from the mountains of southern
Greece) is easily recognised for its similarity to the silver fir, though its needles are
sharply pointed and arranged more or less all around the branchlets, while those of
the silver fir are blunt and arranged in horizontal ranks.
It's presence around Lake Garda adds, as if it were needed, a Mediterranean touch.
Once you pass Malga di Puria, if you do not want to go up to Passo della Puria there is
a path that goes south to Passo di Scarpapé (1242m) where another path leads into
Valle Tignalga.
Now, however, continue along the cart road and after about half an hour you will
reach Cascina Puria Nuova (New Puria Farmhouse) which replaced the Vecchia, or old
farmhouse, only to be abandoned in the 1960s when livestock was no longer
transferred every year from lowland grazing to mountain pastures.
Used as a lodge by the state forestry service, it is worth stopping here for a while.
Behind the farmhouse are a few steps leading up to a panoramic point from which, on
clear days, there is a spectacular view to the head of the valley in Val Droanello.
Take the forest path that starts the descent just below Cascina Nuova. You go through
a Scots-pine forest and reach the ruins of the Val del Porsél farmhouse, surrounded by
old beech trees (1 hr).
The old waterhole was recently restored to encourage hoofed mammals, especially
deer which seem particularly suited to this area.
It is worth making a diversion that will in just a few minutes take you to Marànch
farmhouse. Behind the house, on the ridge that descends towards Val di Droanello, is
a magnificent hornbeam, together with a beech and an ash.
The hornbeam’s rough, twisted trunk testifies to its respectable age.
Go back the way you came and when you get back to the ruined Val del Porsél
farmhouse take the uphill path that goes past the waterhole and in just over half an
hour you will reach the road that comes up from Cadria and takes you back to where
you started (1.30 - 4.00 hours).
Links
Flora and Fauna
Bank Vole
The bank vole, also known locally as the "gnome of the woods", is the most common
small mammal in our area.
This tiny, reddish - furred rodent lives in tunnels which it digs just below the soil's
surface.
It usually makes its nest under fallen trees, among tree roots or in the undergrowth.
Its diet consist mainly of pine nuts, hazelnuts, mushrooms and berries, but it will also
eat insect and snail larvae.
In winter it stores food in its underground den, thus favouring the germination of
uneaten seeds an the consequent propagation of plants.
A floristic paradise
The floristic importance of this area was first established in the 18th century when a
group of botanists and herbalists started a serious investigation, identifying and
classifying numerous, previously unknown species.
Today, those plants are still a rare and precious natural heritage to be protected for
future generations. They are “botanical endemisms”, species found only in a restricted
area, characteristic, in this case, of the Southern Alps.
These plants evolved as separate species because of their geographic isolation
following glaciation. During the last ice age, an enormous icecap covered the Alps.
Only a few zones were free, one of which included the peaks of the Southern Alpine
foothills, which were never covered by ice.
This area gave shelter to the plants we now recognise as endemic; they were isolated
for a very long period of time, gradually adapting to their new environment and
evolving into new species.
In the zone that includes the Alta Valvestino (Upper Vestino valley), there are as many
as 21 endemisms, eight of which are on the IUCN Red List, a world directory of plants
considered at risk of extinction and therefore in need of absolute protection.
Fauna sanctuary
The fauna of the Valvestino is very similar to that in other areas of this stretch of the
Southern Alps.
Apart from resident species, this is also an important stopover and/or nesting area for
numerous migrant passerines: skylarks, siskins, thrushes, etc.
The vast beech and Scots-pine woods, interspersed with light-filled, peaceful
clearings, are the favourite habitat of the roe deer, a shy, pretty, hoofed mammal.
Another quite common inhabitant is the deer, whose bell echoes through the area
during the autumn rutting time.
Further up are the hoofed mammals typical of high altitudes, the chamois and ibex.
A marmot repopulation programme was implemented in the alpine meadows of Monte
Tombea.
In springtime not far from this habitat, the call of the black grouse can be heard.
If you are lucky, you may catch glimpses in the woods of woodpeckers, little-owls or
the rare capercaillie.
The top predators - golden eagle, short-toed eagle, eagle owl - are also important and
are gradually coming back to Valvestino thanks to its favourable environment.
Sometimes the lammergeier, lynx or bear visit this wild corner of the Alps, which
testifies to its immense environmental importance.
Links