Giro delle cros

This itinerary, deeply linked to popular devotion, is characterized by the presence of wooden votive crosses, which volunteers placed in 1996 at the locations where these once stood in the early 1900s.

We start from the church of Norcen and immediately descend towards the small village square. From here, we continue uphill, keeping to the right and following the main paved road until we reach the locality of Trugno, where we immediately take a steep path on the left that winds through the forest.

At the end of the path, just a few meters ahead, we find the first Cross along the route (loc. Cava). We continue on a slight incline along the main paved road until reaching an open area rich with meadows dotted with casère (loc. Salchegn). The position is optimal for spotting the profile of the Monegheta, a characteristic rock pinnacle that rises among the Peaks.

The legend says that, to escape the siege of Feltre in 1509, a nun took refuge in the mountains but, upon seeing the city in flames, was petrified by pain and remorse for having abandoned the monastery and her companions to a sad fate. After leaving the meadows of Salchegn and reaching the first bend, keeping to the right and advancing a few dozen meters (short detour), we find the second cross (loc. Boa del Cuc).

Returning to the main path, we continue uphill, and after a few curves, we pass the cluster of rustic buildings in Salzena, always in a panoramic environment, arriving at the locality of Monegat. Leaving the road, we take the left path that winds with an initially steep slope, then becoming gradually milder, until we reach the clearing of Paradis.

We turn right and, on a road that is first unpaved then paved, we reach a second clearing (Pian dell’Albero) where we can admire a monumental beech tree. We continue following the signage on the forest road until we reach the suggestive hill of Soladen, in sight of Passo Croce d’Aune, Mt. Coppolo, and Vallazza. Skirting the forest on our left, we head towards the third cross, that of Soladen, visible at the top of the hill. Here we can pause for a few minutes and admire the landscape before taking the path that descends rapidly into the woods.

After a sharp bend to the left, the route faithfully follows the boundary of the Park. From here, we continue on the paved road and, intersecting the road that leads up to the Paradis, we keep descending following the signage until, passing two rustic buildings on the right, we arrive at the last cross that we encounter on our way (loc. Valerna). Following the paved road, we descend past the village of Valduna and reach the little church of Norcen, just a few minutes from the square.

DEEP DIVE ON... The fauna is there... but not visible

The environment surrounding us is populated by numerous wild animals, even if we often do not notice them. Many of them are primarily active at night or at dawn and dusk, while others, particularly sensitive to human presence, flee as soon as they sense the risk of an encounter. Among the species that regularly inhabit these places is the common buzzard (Buteo buteo), which confidently soars over the open spaces in the early afternoon, hunting for small birds or mammals. In contrast, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) moves very cautiously: we can picture it grazing on a tuft of dewy grass at the first light of morning. There are also creatures that are as peaceful as they are defenseless, like amphibians, which are easy to observe, especially in spring. In the vicinity of Soladen, the puddles that form on impermeable soils attract the common toad (Bufo bufo), which lays its eggs in long transparent strands, and the cheerful yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata), which is smaller and more agile. Finally, the presence of animals can be discovered, in every season, through the "reading" of their tracks.