Moerna: Mountain Views, Village History and Trails in Valvestino

Moerna brings together the churches of San Bartolomeo Apostolo and San Rocco, the Museo Botanico Don Pietro Porta and trails into the mountain landscape of Valvestino. It also offers views of high peaks, a local cheese-making tradition and traces of the village’s former way of life.

Botany and Dairy Farming in Moerna

The Museo Botanico Don Pietro Porta is located in Moerna in a former cooperative dairy. It stands opposite the birthplace of the botanist Don Pietro Porta. The exhibition combines botany and dairy farming and showcases representative local plant species collected by the botanist. An interactive educational game is dedicated to identifying plant species.

Churches and Art History

The Church of San Bartolomeo Apostolo stands above the village centre and dates back to the 15th century. Inside is a 15th-century Byzantine-inspired fresco depicting the Madonna and Child. The 16th-century frescoes also include the coat of arms of the Counts of Lodrone. The Church of San Rocco is located on the promontory of Moerna and was built between the 17th and 18th centuries. It contains an old altarpiece depicting Saint Roch, Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint Valentine, priest and martyr.

The San Rocco promontory opposite Moerna offers views of Monte Caplone and Monte Tombea. The summits of these mountains are almost 2,000 metres high. At a viewpoint near San Rocco, there is an information board for identifying the surrounding peaks.

Historic Trails and Hikes

Historic trails lead from Moerna towards Valle delle Chiese. The circular route through the villages of Valvestino also follows old roads through Moerna. The Parco Alto Garda’s themed excursion options include a route in Valvestino between Turano, Moerna and Persone.

The Moerna–Monte Stino–Moerna circular hike is 9.5 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 500 metres, takes 3 hours and is classified as an E-grade hiking trail. The route leads to a viewpoint overlooking Lago d’Idro, as well as to a heavy machine-gun position and a gallery from the First World War on Monte Stino.

Moerna by Mountain Bike

Two mountain-bike circuits also include Moerna. The route “Moerna – Cingolo Rosso – Bondone – Bocca Cablone – Ponte Franato – Armo – Persone – Moerna” leads via Cingolo Rosso, Bondone, Bocca Cablone, Ponte Franato, Armo and Persone before returning to Moerna. The route “Bersaglio – Turano – Moerna – Persone – Bersaglio” includes Moerna as part of its circuit.

Traces of Everyday Life in the Past

For many years, Moerna was inhabited by farming families who traded in the valley and at times also worked as charcoal burners. Traditional charcoal production used a charcoal kiln; in Italian it is called a “carbonaia”, and in the local dialect a “poiat”. The houses of Moerna are surrounded by carefully mown meadows.

Local Cheese and a Festival in October

Azienda Agricola Porta Andreina and Azienda Agricola Eggiolini Elia produce the traditional Tombea cheese in Moerna. The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on the first Sunday in October with a procession through the streets of Moerna.

Getting There

Moerna can be reached on foot or by vehicle via a paved road.

Other places: Flero, Colombare, Dello, Porzano, Roe' Volciano, Verolavecchia, Colombaro-Timoline and Bozze-Calchera-Villa.

Brescia.