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A long weekend group vacation in the mountains for May Day to experience the natural beauty of the Venetian Pre-Alps: we’ll enjoy hikes along the most beautiful trails of the Little Dolomites, with enchanting landscapes and activities that evoke the ancient traditions of the Venetian mountains. The walks, set amidst the clearings and forests of the Conca di Smeraldo, will take us through quiet pastures, traditional mountain huts, and picturesque hamlets, where we’ll savor local products, as well as through forests that bear witness to the harmony between nature and the inhabitants of the Agno Valley. We’ll hike the trails to Campogrosso and along the Sentiero dei Grandi Alberi accompanied by an expert local guide, who will share stories and insights known only to those who have breathed this air their whole lives. The watchword for our weekend in the mountains is “curiosity”: walking through the Little Dolomites while enjoying the scents of the season and immersing ourselves in nature, opening up to getting to know our new travel companions and the culture of the Vicentine Prealps, without turning down the delicious traditional Venetian cuisine!
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Program
First day
Welcome to your weekend in the mountains of Veneto! We’ll all meet in Recoaro Terme in the late afternoon. This village, nestled in the Conca di Smeraldo, is home to springs of pure, healing waters—so much so that it boasts a history as a premier destination for the bourgeoisie, drawn to its natural hot springs. We’ll meet directly at the hotel with our guide, who will present the weekend’s itinerary over a refreshing aperitif. This will be followed by dinner and our first easy evening hike, which will take us on a discovery of the surroundings of Recoaro, venturing into its neighborhoods and walking through nature under a starry sky.
Second day
Hiking in Campogrosso
Today we set out full of energy for a hike in the scenic Campogrosso basin, in the heart of the Piccole Dolomiti Vicentine, from where we can admire both the imposing rock faces and the plain below. This hike is undoubtedly fascinating for both its historical and naturalistic value: it will be an exploratory adventure to immerse ourselves in the geology and history of the Recoaro area.
During this guided hike with an expert guide, we’ll follow one of the ancient routes leading to the Campogrosso Pass, used until the early 20th century by smugglers shuttling between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We’ll take a special lunch break: we’ll stop at the Campogrosso Mountain Hut for a delicious traditional mountain hut lunch! Once our hike is over, we’ll deserve some relaxation—shall we book access to the hotel’s spa?
Third day
A Day in the Village of
Today we can give our legs a rest... but certainly not our appetites! A variety of activities are planned that showcase the most important traditions of this valley. We’re getting ready to explore one of Recoaro’s distinctive villages—small settlements scattered throughout the Conca di Smeraldo that, in many cases, have preserved ancient buildings and customs. We’ll head up to the Rossati di Valdagno district, where we’ll get an introduction to the world of bees and local honey. This will be followed by a traditional cooking workshop, where we’ll prepare our own lunch using ancient Venetian recipes: bigoli or polenta, depending on the season, will be our delicious creations.
After lunch, we’ll take a refreshing break and proceed with a visit to the apiary: our journey into the world of bees continues with a beeswax workshop.
How can we end our day without a good glass of wine? We’ll enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery together with our guide.
After a day full of activities and exploring the area, we’ll return to our hotel for dinner.
Fourth day
Along the Sentiero dei Grandi Alberi
Today is our last day: we’re setting off on a beautiful hike along the Sentiero dei Grandi Alberi, a picturesque trail through the area’s most beautiful forests and clearings. Nestled in the heart of the enchanting Venetian Pre-Alps, this trail winds through the scenic Montagnole Plateau and is a true hidden gem, passing through ancient forests and offering spectacular views. We’ll cover only a section of it, but along the way we’ll have the chance to see majestic centuries-old trees, whose imposing canopies seem to hold distant stories. We’ll get up close to these great arboreal patriarchs, walking among beech groves and elegant fir trees, surrounded by a rich variety of plants and flowers that paint the landscape with unique hues. Once the hike is over, it’s time to head back: those who wish can stop for lunch at one of the many mountain huts in the area. See you soon!
accommodation in double/triple rooms in a 4-star hotel
Buffet breakfast and traditional dinners featuring Vicenza cuisine, with water and wine at the table, plus one lunch at a mountain refuge.
wine tasting and local products
cooking workshop featuring traditional dishes (Easter and May 1) visit to an apiary and creation of a wax candle (December) basket weaving workshop using natural materials
expert environmental guide
health and baggage insurancetravel, 1 lunch, entry to the wellness center (€30 for 3 hours), any tourist tax, and anything not specified under "Includes."
4-star hotel - Recoaro Terme - VI
I recommend that you drive to the location because the (short) trips will be made in participants’ cars. The starting points for the excursions are about 10–20 minutes from the hotel, and the roads are always passable, even in the event of snowfall. Please note that if you decide to use public transportation, you will split the transportation costs with those who provide their cars. From the A4 Milan–Venice highway, take the Alte-Montecchio exit and continue toward Recoaro. From the A31 Valdastico highway, take the Thiene exit and head toward Schio/Recoaro. From Vicenza, you can reach Recoaro via Montecchio and then by traveling up the Agno Valley, which begins in Trissino. Warning! I recommend setting your GPS to “Recoaro Terme” only, not the full address of the Trettenero Hotel, as many GPS systems will unnecessarily take you on a longer route. Train: The most convenient and closest train station to Recoaro is Vicenza. From the Vicenza station, take a bus; the bus station is next to the train station. Tickets are available at the automated ticket machine; alternatively, please visit the ticket office inside. If you are unable to purchase a ticket in advance, you can also buy one on board for an additional fee. Bus: From Vicenza, SVT (Società Vicentina Trasporti) offers direct connections to Recoaro. For more information, call the SVT switchboard at 0444 223111. To check the schedules for LINE 1, visit the website: https://www.svt.vi.it/ Air: The Veneto airports closest to Recoaro are Marco Polo in Venice and Catullo in Verona Villafranca. The Hotel Trettenero is located right in the center of Recoaro Terme.
The most convenient and closest train station to Recoaro is Vicenza. From Vicenza station, take the bus; the bus station is next to the train station. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket machine or at the ticket office inside the station. If you are unable to purchase your ticket in advance, you can also buy it on board for an additional fee.
From Vicenza, SVT (Società Vicentina Trasporti) offers direct connections to Recoaro. For more information, call the SVT switchboard at 0444 223111. To check the timetable for LINE 1, visit: https://www.svt.vi.it/
The closest airports to Recoaro are Catullo in Verona Villafranca and Marco Polo in Venice.
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