Longare between Rocks, History and Regional Flavors

Longare can be explored through several clearly distinguishable interests: historic buildings, rocky landscapes, trails and regional products.

Rocks and History in Lumignano

The Eremo di San Cassiano is a 17th-century building incorporating a church approximately one thousand years older. Graves carved into the rock are still visible there. The hermitage can only be reached on foot via a trail running along the rocks of Lumignano.

Among the natural features are the Covoli dei Berici, natural caves in the limestone rocks behind Lumignano. These rock openings were used from the Upper and Middle Paleolithic through the second half of the 20th century. They served as settlements, fortified refuges, hermitages and shelters for domestic animals.

Villas and Religious Architecture

Villa Eolia was built in the second half of the 16th century by Count Francesco Trento as a pavilion and seat of the Accademia Eolica. Villa Eolia is also featured in the second book of Palladio’s “Quattro libri dell’architettura” from 1570.

Villa Eolia displays a special connection between the building and the mountain through its precious, openwork octagonal stone grille. Tempered air from the mountain’s caves can rise through underground passages via this grille. At Villa Eolia, the octagonal stone grille connects the architectural form with the tempered air rising from the mountain caves.

The Benedictine parish church of Pieve di San Mauro Abate stands on a rocky spur and is among the oldest religious foundations in the Vicenza area.

Hiking and Climbing

The Sentiero del Monte Brosimo begins and ends at Piazza da Schio in Costozza.

The climbing rocks of Lumignano were already used by mountaineers in 1920 to prepare for climbs in the Dolomites and are now considered an international benchmark for sport climbing. Thirty new routes for adults and 15 for children have been designated.

At Dente di Lumignano, climbing is prohibited on 21 routes on the south side and 32 routes on the west side. The affected area lies to the left of the “CLASSICA”.

Bisi di Lumignano and New Habitats

Since 2008, the municipality of Longare has recognized “Bisi di Lumignano” as a typical local product under its DECO scheme. In the case of Bisi di Lumignano, the warmth stored by the surrounding rocks enables exceptionally early production. The rocks therefore shape not only the landscape but also the local cultivation of Bisi di Lumignano.

The area of the former Ex Cava Volto di Costozza quarry complex now offers events and guided visits. At the same time, it serves as an experimental project for restoring natural habitats and enhancing their educational and ecological value. On the former extraction site, events and visits coincide with a project for restoring natural habitats.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

For further orientation, you can also explore Barbarano Vicentino, Bosco di Tretto, Romano D'ezzelino, Montebello Vicentino, Zovencedo, Longa, Lovolo and Grisignano Di Zocco for further exploration.

For the higher-level travel overview: Vicenza.