Castana in Val Posina: Churches, Valleys and Historic Paths

Castana between Two Valley Directions

Castana lies on Provincial Road No. 81 to Posina in Val Posina. The road through Val Posina follows the mountain stream and leads to the town center of Castana. Near Castana, the road divides: to the left, it continues through the main valley of the Posina; to the right, the valley of the Zara stream opens toward Laghi. This creates a clearly recognizable landscape for you, where the course of the valley, water and mountain forms are closely interconnected.

The dolomitic Monte Maio reaches an elevation of 1,500 meters and separates the two branches of the Posina and Zara valleys near Castana. This geographical setting makes the village particularly interesting for travelers who, during their trip to Italy, want to experience not only a single destination but also the transitions between different valley landscapes.

San Pietro Apostolo and the History of Castana

Castana was a front-line area during the First World War. During the Strafexpedition in May 1916, the village was occupied by the Austro-Hungarian army for about forty days. The church of San Pietro Apostolo is also closely connected with this past. After the First World War, it was filled with war materiel, including bombs, mortar shells, gelignite, cartridges and projectiles of all calibers.

The church of San Pietro Apostolo in Castana is dedicated to the Apostle Peter. The inhabitants of Castana and Tovo received permission to build it on December 29, 1797; it was solemnly blessed on November 22, 1803. The parish of San Pietro Apostolo in Castana was established by an episcopal decree dated February 18, 1957. The building may have provided shelter for columns of mules during nighttime wartime movements.

The feast day of San Pietro in Castana is celebrated on June 29. If you are interested in religious buildings and the layered history of a place, this date connects the present-day annual cycle with the historical traces preserved in Castana and its surroundings.

Hiking Paths, Contrade and Traces in the Landscape

The path through Valle dei Biasi leads from the town center of Castana to the ruined contrade of Biasi di sotto and Biasi di sopra. At Contrada Pasqualetti, a paved path begins and climbs uphill toward the ridge of the Sogli Bianchi. The landscape paths therefore extend from a route starting in the town center to higher sections along the mountain ridge.

On the circular route in Val di Tovo, you will encounter First World War installations, abandoned contrade and steep rock faces. Old dry-stone walls in the forest of Valle dei Biasi are a reminder that meadows once existed there, later overgrown as vegetation spread. For planning purposes, these paths can therefore be viewed according to different interests: the terrain combines historical traces, abandoned settlement areas and distinctive natural features, without every section having the same character.

More Places for Your Trip to Italy

If you would like to combine Castana with other destinations on your trip, here are additional places for you to choose from: Villaga, Fara Vicentino, Romano D'ezzelino, Brendola, Lovertino, Longare, Longa, Tezze Sul Brenta.

Back to the main travel overview: Vicenza.