Nassar: Alzaia, the Adige River and Historic Buildings

Alzaia and the landscape along the Adige River

The route along the Adige River begins at the railway bridge in Parona and reaches the municipality of San Pietro in Cariano at Nassar. It can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. After entering the municipality, the Sentiero dell’Alzaia reaches the old Mulino Nassar. Together, the riverside route and the historic mill provide two tangible landmarks for a stay in Nassar.

The Sentiero dell’Alzaia is generally accessible year-round. After rain, the sandy ground can become difficult to traverse, and flooding of the Adige River can make the path impassable. Take these limitations into account when planning and check conditions before setting out.

For cycling, there is also a wider regional context: the cycling network in Valpolicella and Valdadige partly follows the routes of former Roman roads. One main route runs along the Via Claudia Augusta Padana. The cycle paths pass through landscapes that are predominantly agricultural. Vine-growing dominates the lower Valpolicella, while cherries and olives are cultivated at higher elevations. This change in crops gives the region a different character depending on which part you visit.

Nassar itself is also identified as a place of ecological interest along the Alzaia. It was once also the site of a hospice for travellers. Along with the old buildings and their architectural features, the landscape and traces of history are among the things that distinguish Nassar.

Churches, the mill and historic buildings

The Nassar section of the Alzaia includes the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate and plaques showing the water levels reached by the Adige during the floods of 1719 and 1882. The church dates from the 15th century and preserves two fresco fragments in addition to its high altar. The plaques, meanwhile, record specific historical water levels—a reminder that the river has shaped not only the landscape but also its history.

Another historic landmark in the municipality of San Pietro in Cariano is the Pieve di San Floriano. It was first mentioned in a document dating to 905. The Romanesque church contains extensive fragments of Roman buildings incorporated into the structure. This brings together two distinct historical periods in a single building: the Roman building elements and the later Romanesque church.

At Mulino Nassar, bridges over the inlet and outlet channels have been preserved; these once powered the mill’s machinery. In Nassar-Settimo, Villa Morando, also known as La Colombina, stands on the banks of the Adige. Villa Mosconi, also called Villa Mirandola, was built towards the end of the 17th century. A pagan altar was found on the grounds of Villa Mirandola in the early 19th century. Decorated with putti and sacrificial implements, it is now displayed in two parts on either side of the entrance on the façade of the adjoining Chapel of San Giuseppe.

The surrounding area of San Pietro in Cariano also has historic buildings with distinctive details. Villa Serego in Santa Sofia stands on the old road from Parona to Pedemonte and was designed by Andrea Palladio in the 16th century. The chapel attached to the villa contains frescoes from the early 14th century. The construction date, design and frescoes each offer a different clue to the building’s history.

Wine as a regional feature

The wines associated with Valpolicella in the San Pietro in Cariano area include Valpolicella, Amarone, Recioto and Ripasso. Together with the vineyards of the lower Valpolicella and the cultivation of cherries and olives at higher elevations, this regional context offers another perspective on Nassar and its surroundings—alongside the riverside route, the mill and the historic buildings.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Trevenzuolo, Malpasso, Ceraino, Marchesino, Belfiore, Malcesine, Poiano, Dossobuono.

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