Discover Lumignano: Caves, Cliffs and History

If you are considering Lumignano as a destination, two themes stand out: the limestone cliffs with their caves, and the long history of the places around the cliffs. The Chiesa di Lumignano and the Bisi di Lumignano are also cultural and culinary points of reference. These different aspects will help you plan your stay.

Caves and their history of use

The Covoli dei Berici are natural caves that open in the limestone cliffs above Lumignano. They were used as dwellings as early as the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. Over the millennia, they served various purposes: as homes, fortified refuges, hermitages and shelters for domestic animals. These uses continued until the second half of the 20th century. The caves thus combine a striking landscape feature with a long history of human use. They may interest you when planning your trip if you are drawn to both nature and traces of early and later life in the area.

Trails to the hermitage and caves

The Eremo di San Cassiano can only be reached on foot, via a path along the cliffs of Lumignano. If you plan to visit, the walk is therefore part of your visit planning. An older tourist route description places the start of Sentiero No. 3 at a wayside shrine beside Piazza Mazzaretto. From there, the trail leads to the Eremo, the Croce and the rock faces of the Brojon. If you follow this route description, check current access conditions.

Another hike goes around Monte Castellaro and includes visits to the Grotta della Guerra and the Grotta della Mura. It is described as short, challenging and adventurous. The destinations described therefore differ: Sentiero No. 3 focuses on the Eremo, Croce and Brojon, while the Monte Castellaro hike combines a route around the mountain with two caves and is explicitly described as challenging.

Churches and architectural history

The masonry building of the Eremo di San Cassiano dates from the 17th century. The present-day Chiesa di Lumignano was built in 1937 and houses the Baroque altars from the former Chiesa di San Maiolo. The building and the altars thus represent different periods: the altars come from the former church, while today they stand in the Chiesa di Lumignano, built in 1937. Together with the Eremo, they offer a cultural perspective on different building and use histories, without suggesting that the two places tell the same story.

Bisi di Lumignano

The Bisi di Lumignano are also part of the area's history. Since 2008, the municipality of Longare has recognised them as a typical De.C.O. product. Their cultivation is said to have been introduced by Benedictine monks who, around the year 1000, reclaimed the Venetian plain near Vicenza. This origin should be understood as an uncertain tradition. The municipal recognition and the story of their origin are two distinct points of reference: one has been an established recognition since 2008, while the other is an unverified historical attribution.

Discover more destinations: Cornedo Vicentino, Pove Del Grappa, Vicenza, Villaverla, Poiana Maggiore, Montegalda, Lusiana, Nanto

Go to the main travel overview: Vicenza.