Atestino Trail, no. 3

The Sentiero Atestino, conceived by Claudio Coppola and created thanks to the work of volunteers from theEste section of the Club Alpino Italiano, runs for about 20 km on the hills overlooking the village of Arquà Petrarca, offering breathtaking views and a variety of environments, from sunny meadows to dense woods dominated by chestnut trees.

The route begins in the high village of Arquà Petrarca, at a votive chapel. From here, you take a small road that crosses at altitude the southern and eastern slopes of Monte Piccolo, passing through olive groves and wooded areas, until you reach the hamlet of Corte Vigo. It then descends along a secondary road, called Via Ventolone, crossing a basin planted with vineyards, and then ascends to a building called the "parish priest's house." The trail continues along the eastern slope of Monte Orbieso; a short detour allows you to visit the remains of the Convent of Santa Maria di Orbise, located on the top of the hill.

Reaching the wide meadow below, one climbs the southern flank of Monte Gallo and, bypassing the hill, arrives on the road that leads from the SP 99 Cingolina pass to Monte Fasolo. Continuing downhill through meadows and vineyards, an old stone house is encountered; from here, a lane makes a wide turn into the woods and leads to a series of meadows and cultivated land. Past the ruins of a rural building, you take a dirt road lined with a long row of almond trees, very picturesque and with sensational views, that runs along the entire ridge of Monte Fasolo. Along the way one encounters the picturesque Church of San Gaetano.

At the saddle of the mountain, you enter a vineyard and, following the signs, reach the summit of Monte Rusta, crossing a dense forest, and then descend from the opposite slope along a cart track. Arriving at the vineyards on the slopes of Monte Gemola, a detour to the top of the mountain is recommended to admire the splendid Villa Beatrice d'Este. Retracing one's steps and descending toward Valle San Giorgio, one encounters on the right the Fontana delle Fontanelle.

Lamarisk plants and a small gate announce the beginning of the Wall Contrada. From here, you skirt the wall of the small road, descending to the ancient stone washhouse called the Fonte di Pissarotto, at the mouth of the valley of the Abbot. Keeping the fountain on your left, you climb for about 3 km up the Marlunghe ridge, in a dry and open environment overlooking the Cero and Castello mountains. At the end of the climb, turn first right and then left, penetrating onto the asphalt road; after about 300 meters, turn left and then, after a short while, take a path on the left that, with gentle hairpin bends among maple trees and broom, leads to the village of Arquà Petrarca, precisely in front of the Casa del Petrarca.

This itinerary offers a complete hiking experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the varied landscape of the Euganean Hills and discover places of great historical and natural interest.