A journey to discover the wealth of the buildings with superbly decorated facades in the historic center of Feltre, also known as urbs picta, the painted city.
Starting from Prà del Moro, we head towards the Palaghiaccio to continue along Via Pietro Marescalchi and Via Borgo Ruga. After a short stretch on Via Francesco Crispi, we walk along the so-called via del mercato, Via Campo Mosto, which will lead you to the Concattedrale di San Pietro Apostolo and its Baptistery. Under its atrium lies an archaeological area of 900sqm, which preserves evidence of the earliest phases of the city's life, specifically a portion of the urban quarter from the Roman center of Feltria.
From here, the urban structure characterized by the Citadel, which climbs the hill called Colle delle Capre, dominated by the Castle of Alboino, is clearly visible. The walls that protect it were expanded at the end of the 15th century and are still partially walkable thanks to the ancient Sentiero della Sentinella.
Adjacent to these walls are three access gates to the historic center: Porta Imperiale, Porta Pusterla, and Porta Oria. The route entails passing through Porta Pusterla, which will lead you through the so-called Scalette Vecchie to discover the Ancient Prisons and the curious streets of this part of the city, particularly Via Mezzaterra, until reaching the buildings that house the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art and the "Carlo Rizzarda" Modern Art Gallery, a museum that encompasses wrought iron work and decorative arts from the early 20th century.
At the end of this street, Via Paradiso, you arrive at the wonderful Piazza Maggiore, which is lined with buildings from various eras, the Church of Saints Rocco and Sebastian, the Palazzo della Ragione which houses the Teatro de la Sena, better known as the Piccola Fenice as it was designed by the same architect who created the Venetian theater, Giannantonio Selva. From here, the Hall of Coats of Arms and the Castle are also visible.
The route continues in the Bosco Drio le Rive and leads back to Prà del Moro.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Parking: Prà del Moro Parking (Feltre - BL)
Distance: 2.9 km
Elevation Gain: 50 m
Difficulty: easy
Walking Time: 50 min
Recommended Equipment: suitable trekking shoes
You are in a natural environment that demands respect:
- Prohibition of flower picking
- Prohibition of bathing
- No loud noises
- Prohibition of lighting fires
- Do not leave waste behind, dispose of it in designated areas (including cigarette butts, tissues, masks, and organic waste)
- Minors must be accompanied
- Dogs must be kept on a leash and their waste collected
- Do not stray off the path
- Do not disturb local wildlife
It is recommended to check the ARPAV website for any disturbances before embarking on the trail.
