Dog-friendly holidays in Mori

An excursion through the hidden places of the Brentonico Plateau, to discover the centuries-old chestnut groves and the remains of the Great War.

A journey made of people and encounters, where history, culture, and nature intertwine along ancient paths and small welcoming inhabited centers.

Between ancient clocksMori was once the name of the parish formed by some "villas" whose centre were Tierno and Mori Vecchio, "served" by the Church of Santo Stefano, located halfway and first mentioned in 1180 (witness the bell tower in Veronese terracotta), and rebuilt in the 19th century. The industrial area, now linked to that of Rovereto, surrounds the historical nuclei that stretch along the main road, giving rise to a certain economic and cultural prosperity that has its origins in Mori's past as a deanery, district court and commercial centre. Perched on a rocky outcrop above the houses is the large clock (4 m in diameter) of the bell tower of the Sanctuary of Monte Albano (lit also at night), built in 1567 after the intensification of the cult of the Virgin Mary promoted by the Council of Trent. The portal is decorated with 6 modern reliefs that tell of as many important events in the history of Mori. Behind it are the guardian's house (once protected by hermits) and the ruins of Albano Castle, which belonged to the powerful Castelbarco family and was later destroyed by the Venetians (1439).

In the largest marshy area of Trentino,at that time, here in the small valley of the Cameras, a small lake opened up, formerly also called Lago di Sant' Andrea , today Lago di Loppio. However, in order to counteract the water masses of the Adige, an underground gallery was built, in agreement with those responsible for Lago di Garda, which led to the drying up of the basin (1954-1959). Today it is the largest marsh area in Trentino, with a highly fluctuating water level and an extraordinary biodiversity. Among the few houses of Loppio, just before the commercial area, we find Palazzo Castelbarco, a medieval building that was later transformed into a noble residence and badly damaged during the war. After the war, the building was partially rebuilt (privately owned, construction still in progress).

After a coffee at Nero Caffè in Rovereto, we meet at the parking lot at the beginning of the road leading to what I call the Valley of the Gardens, referring to the predominantly fruit and vegetable and commercial vocation that the Gresta valley has had for some years now. We climb from the meadow up to the first hairpin turn, after which we ascend the trail 781 in the Carpenè forest, on the ridge that allows you to admire the extent (changing depending on the water input from the previous days) of Lake Loppio. After about three quarters of an hour of steady ascent, we enter an asphalt road that in turn joins the Bordala Provincial Road, which we leave immediately towards the town of Valle San Felice, where we visit the small but suggestive church of St. Anna. Then we continue climbing, passing in front of the Locanda S.Felice and reach Pannone where we climb the rocky outcrop that hides, not too well, the ruin that was named Castel Gresta, present in history since 1225 and definitively destroyed by the French in 1703. A short lunch break and then we head towards Pannone, not far away, crossing the village towards the Giardino Restaurant, where besides coffee, we taste cakes and other treats. Then we set off towards the Mill and descend the Peace Trail until we deviate near a small shrine, descending and crossing Valle San Felice. Partially returning on the outward trail, we deviate onto a path on the ridge of Monte Garda, just above Lake Loppio, and land near Passo San Giovanni. We circle the lake then stop at the little island of St. Andrea/Clotilde, which today is no longer such, due to the sinking of the lake caused by the works for the construction, in 1954, of the Adige-Garda tunnel. A small island but rich in history, from the Late Middle Ages to the 1500s, to the First World War and up to the disappearance of the lake in the second half of the twentieth century. For the bike path, we return to the cars, not without stopping for an excellent 'third time' at Tito Bistrot. Technical data: Length 17.2 km / Time 6.30 h / Elevation gain 780 m / Personal rating E/M just for the length.

Semplice percorso con partenza da Ronzo Chienis fino a Santa Barbara e ritorno nel bosco attraverso le trincee.