The “Sentiero Alto” between history and nature of Cogollo del Cengio

The “Sentiero Alto” between history and nature of Cogollo del Cengio

Travelers today we bring you in the municipality of Cogollo del Cengio in the province of Vicenza (Veneto – Italy) to make a route surrounded by nature: the Sentiero Alto.

Located at the entrance of the Astico valley that leads to the plateau of Asiago, the pedestrian and cycle path leaves from Mosson and continues between the old districts, green meadows and woods.The trail starts from the oratory of San Gaetano in the center of Mosson: in 1665 the church was dedicated to St. Cecilia and was demolished by order of Gregory Barbarigo, bishop of Vicenza, in 1676. In its place, in that year, it was built the oratory of San Gaetano that brings emblem of the Municipality and the inscription “Comunitas Cogoli 1676”.

Following the signs that read “Sentiero Alto” you leave the village to go down a dirt road that goes into the woods and where once passed the old railroad Rocchette- Asiago. The railway that linked the territory “Alto vicentino” with Asiago was inaugurated in 1910 by the will of Alessandro Rossi, Senator of the Kingdom of Italy and Industrial, which made it his factory, called Lanerossi, a leading Italian industries, but I tell you this story in another article.

The railway that climbed from the plains to the mountains walked a path of 21 190 km, of which 5, 764 km were overcome with a rack a third rail with a special gear type Strub, to overcome the slope.
In 1916, after Strafexpedition ( the battle fought between May 15 and June 27, 1916, between the italian army and the austo-hungarian one during World War I), the train stopped at Ponte Campiello and traveled only at night. The railway was closed in 1958.

Continuing in the woods you will find the path “of the Lamaretto”, a way similar to the ancient Roman roads because in some places has a cobblestone pavement. At the end of this road you will find the pool of Lamareto a pond fed by a natural spring. In the past, during the winter, the water froze and the pool became an ice skating rink.

Following the signs you pass through the Contrade of the municipality of Cogollo del Cengio until you reach the “chiesa dell’Olmo”. The church, which in reality is dedicated to St. Senesio, gets its name because it was built on the hill Olmo and is said that its construction dates back to a period between 1100 and 1200. Historical texts of the diocese of Padua confirm the presence of this church in 1179.

Past the church you can admire a beautiful view overlooking the mountains and after a stretch of road in the woods you will be on the path “of Bissuj” where you will find a votive shrine and the old wash. The painting of the Madonna with the child in this little shrine is the work of Pietro Zuccollo da Piangrande.

As you progress you come to a fork: if you going up the ladders you walk the path named “Fratte” which brings you back to the “chiesa dell’Olmo” whereas if you continue straight ahed you go to to the area named “Casale” and the itinerary ends after few chilometers.

In total the route is long 7 km and you could make it in about 2 hours.