Monteviale: Trails, Villas and History

For a stay in Monteviale, you can choose from a range of themes: named trails and animal motifs, villas and Tiepolo frescoes, architectural history, a historic park and regional cuisine. This lets you tailor your trip to your interests—whether you want to explore the trails, cultural history or local food.

Trails and Nature Motifs

The municipal trail list, updated on March 14, 2025, includes seven walking and combined cycling and walking trails: Sentiero n. 1 “Canestrello,” Sentiero n. 2 “Zuccheriei – delle Are,” Sentiero n. 3 “Vegrolongo – della Sorgente – dell’Ornaro,” Sentiero n. 4 “del Perozzo,” Sentiero n. 5 “del Cornugio,” Sentiero n. 6 “Strada False” and Sentiero n. 7 “dell’Orco.” These seven names give you a clear overview of the designated trails and a starting point for choosing one.

The Sentiero delle Foglie Lucenti is marked with round trail markers; the recommended duration is 45 minutes. Along the trail are ten life-size silhouettes of animals from the surrounding woods: robin, blackbird, buzzard, squirrel, snake, stone marten, fox, badger, hare and hedgehog. You can factor the duration into your schedule, while the animal motifs give the trail its own nature theme.

The Fattoria Didattica A&Alpaca also offers a specific activity: trekking with Huacaya alpacas. At the Fontana della Donestra, you can enjoy a view across the plain; the surroundings are cool and shady. These places and activities complement the designated trails with additional ideas for planning your trip.

Villas, Art and Local History

Villa Loschi Zileri, now known as Motterle, was built by Muttoni in 1734 in the village of Biron, on an older structure dating from the 15th century. The villa therefore brings together two building phases: the older structure and the later building of 1734. Villa Zileri features numerous frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo. For visitors interested in art and history, the villa combines architectural history and fresco art as distinct aspects of the site.

The historic park surrounding Villa Zileri provides a habitat for rare wild plants and stately, centuries-old trees. A bald cypress has a trunk circumference of six meters, measured at a height of 1.5 meters, and is considered a monumental tree at the national level. Alongside the villa, the park offers its own focus on plants and old trees.

The Church of Santa Maria Assunta was built on the foundations of the fortress of Monteviale, which Tebaldo Francigena completely destroyed in 1240. Another historical episode is associated with the votive chapel of Madonna della Salute: it was built in late autumn 1631 in gratitude for prayers that brought the plague to an end. For more than a year, the epidemic had also claimed numerous lives in the Monteviale area. Together, the two buildings reflect different historical connections—the history of the fortress and the memory of the plague.

Local Cuisine and Tradition

The traditional Sagra dell’Ottava, an old village festival held in 2025, featured performances and local cuisine. The Sagra dell’Ottava, also called the Sagra di Monteviale, is associated with Porchetta di Monteviale as a typical dish. The porchetta is made using a pig weighing 20 to 35 kilograms, cooked on a spit over a fire fueled exclusively with wood. The festival, with its performances and food, and the specific method of preparing the porchetta are both part of the local traditions.

Bus Service

Bus No. 16 runs from Vicenza to Monteviale. The “Costigiola – Via delle Mure” stop serves the Base Scout Costigiola. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable with the local operator before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Towns, Schio, Valli Del Pasubio, Campolongo Sul Brenta, Noventa Vicentina, Lastebasse, Mossano, Montorso Vicentino.

See the broader travel overview: Vicenza.