Anello del Paradis

The itinerary starts in the center of Pedavena and you can leave your car near the Town Hall and the Church or at the Brewery parking lot; from here a path for cyclists and pedestrians, which runs alongside the Colmeda stream, leads in 10 minutes to the center of Pedavena. From the starting point, you take the narrow stretch of Via Trento until a fork, where you continue towards Norcen.

After about 15 minutes of walking, near a votive shrine, you deviate from the main road to ascend to a panoramic terrace where a villa with attached farmhouses stands. From here, follow the mule path that further up connects to the road linking Pedavena to Norcen. Climbing the road, you reach the center of the village; wandering through the alleys, you can discover beautiful glimpses of rural architecture. You then reach the parish church, at the top of the village, where there is a picnic area.

From the church, you take the paved road leading to the inhabited area of Valduna. Turning right, you ascend to Cava, where a large wooden cross has been placed. Continue uphill to the left until you reach a group of farmhouses located in a beautiful position. Near a large beech tree and a spring protected by a stone wall, you ascend to the right, intercepting the road that leads to the Paradis a little further up. At this point, the itinerary continues downhill to Case Valerna, where you encounter the road coming from Valduna.

Past the clearing of Stalle Boa, you ascend to the head of Val Porcilla, reaching Croce d’Aune, the highest point (see 5 – Camogne for detailed description). It is recommended to conclude the first stage here (3.30 hours from Pedavena), taking the opportunity to take a walk in the surroundings (itineraries 11 – Monte Avena, 12 – Croce d’Aune, foothill chapels). Those who stay in the area and have a few days available can tackle the challenging hike that leads to Rifugio Dal Piaz and the suggestive Busa delle Vette. The second leg begins at Croce d’Aune and, passing by Stalle Camogne, reaches the beautiful area of Paradis (see itinerary 5 – Camogne for the detailed description).

You then encounter a maiolèra, with walls made of stones of various colors, brought here during the glacial period and recovered from the surrounding land. Upon reaching Casera Fioretta, a paved road guides us downhill through the meadows of Salzena. Just below Casere Monegat, at a curve, we turn left onto the trail that descends in a few minutes to a crossroads. At this point, we continue along the route that leads to Val di Lamen, then to the village of the same name, and finally to the village of Carpene (see itinerary 4 – Fastrede for the detailed description).

From the small square of Carpene, you follow the road downhill in front of the church of S. Valentino until, after a few bends, you reach an intersection near a stone fountain and the old dairy. Continuing straight, you take the dirt road that quickly allows us to reach the paved road heading to Pedavena; after walking for about ten minutes, you arrive at the inhabited area of Tornaol and, passing in front of the Church of San Giovanni Battista, you reach the center of Pedavena.

INSIGHT ON... The maiolère: a mark of our past

Above 6-700 meters in altitude, in what used to be the pre-pasture area rich in pastures, there is a gradual transition from permanent rural settlements to temporary ones of the maiolère, primarily used in the spring before taking the cattle to the mountain pastures. A sign of this transition are the stepped stables, of Germanic design, characterized by very steep slopes originally covered with straw secured with slates. On the ground floor was the stable, and above it was the hayloft accessed from the back, taking advantage of the mountain slope. More typical of the Pedavena area is the maiolèra, consisting of two buildings oriented differently: the stable and the casèra. The latter, a single room, was equipped with a larìn (hearth for heating and cooking), with a hole in the wall for smoke exit, and served as a shelter for the shepherds. The roof, initially made of stone slabs, was progressively replaced by one made of tiles. Above the stable, which was semi-buried and made of masonry, extended the hayloft, open but protected by boards to allow air circulation. The forage stored there was mowed in the adjacent pasture where the characteristic méde (large haystacks) were also located.