Itinerary 3: Adventure and Remembrance between Schio and Valli del Pasubio - 2 days

Itinerary 3: Adventure and Remembrance between Schio and Valli del Pasubio - 2 daysAustrian soldiers are firing. You’re exposed, clinging to the rocky slopes of Monte Pasubio. How can you move men and weapons without being struck down?To survive, in 1917, the Italian Army’s 33rd Mining Company built the Strada delle 52 Gallerie, a mule track carved into the mountain and shielded from enemy fire. Today, it’s an adventurous CAI trail recommended only for experienced hikers.This is where our two-day itinerary of adventure and remembrance begins, between Schio and Valli del Pasubio, recounted in this new episode of On the Road – Journeys of Discovery in the Pedemontana Vicentina.Walking through the tunnels carved into the rock between Bocchetta Campiglia and Porte del Pasubio—each dedicated to war heroes or events—is a true adrenaline rush.In some places, you can still see traces of bombings.The entrance sits at an altitude of 1,216 meters, while the exit is up at 1,918 meters, on the southern face of the Pasubio massif.These narrow passages are around 2.20 meters wide. The width only exceeds 3 meters at the bends—a grim necessity at the time, allowing room to transport the wounded and the dead. Imagine the darkness, the footsteps of the soldiers echoing off the rock…Both physically and emotionally demanding, the Strada delle 52 Gallerie is perhaps the most thrilling hike in the Venetian Prealps.But we’d also like to offer an alternative route that’s accessible to less experienced hikers, yet still packs an emotional punch: the Avis Bridge in Valli del Pasubio, along the Strada del Re, set between the Vicentine Prealps and the Little Dolomites.This trail is suitable for everyone, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting.You can leave your car in the roadside parking area and continue on foot for about twenty minutes, following the signs. You’ll come face to face with a Tibetan bridge: 105 meters long and suspended 35 meters above the ground!Beneath your feet, you’ll see lush conifer and evergreen forests—a thrilling experience that certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.But this bridge has a story to tell, too. In 1956, a bus carrying volunteers from the AVIS blood donor association plunged into a ravine in this area. In a race to save the survivors, the people of Schio turned out in large numbers to donate blood. This powerful act of generosity led, the following year, to the founding of Schio’s municipal AVIS chapter.Now evening falls, and with it comes some well-earned rest—very well-earned, after a day spent in the trenches or hanging mid-air on a suspension bridge!We recommend spending the night in one of the many accommodation facilities in Valli del Pasubio, enjoying a relaxing dinner and a restful sleep.The next morning, the valley wakes under the sun. There’s time for a good breakfast—we’re ready to begin the second day of our journey through adventure and remembrance.Still feeling tired after yesterday’s hike? Then taking it easy at a spa—with a Turkish bath and a sauna—might be just what you need.Later, we recommend visiting the historic center of Schio, about 25 minutes away by car.Set amid the natural splendor of the Little Dolomites, the town is an open-air industrial archaeology museum. Its thriving textile industry, which flourished from the 18th to the 19th century, earned Schio the nickname ‘the Manchester of Italy’.This heritage lives on in its architecture, with three former wool mills still standing. One of the most striking is the Fabbrica Alta of the Lanificio Rossi: 13 meters tall and 80 meters long.But the city’s most visionary architectural gem is the Jacquard Garden, which gives Schio a dreamlike atmosphere.Created in the mid-19th century, this botanical garden features artificial caves, a nymphaeum, and an open-air theatre. It was part of an ambitious urban renewal project by Alessandro Rossi, owner of the textile mill, who wanted to create a space of beauty and well-being for his industrious town.Rossi was one of the key figures in Schio’s economic and industrial development—a pioneer of modernized industry and of a new kind of socially engaged entrepreneurship.We bid the area farewell with one last gentle walk, closing this two-day itinerary on a high note.You can explore the Via dell’Acqua, 10 km from town, or treat yourself to a stroll through the hills of Schio—on foot, by mountain bike, or even on horseback. We won’t forget the emotions that we’ve experienced on this journey. But our mission is to keep moving, and we’re not done yet!In the next episode, we’ll explore art and villas between Thiene and Zugliano.You’ve been listening to On the Road – Journeys of Discovery in the Pedemontana Vicentina, a podcast produced by OGD Pedemontana Veneta e Colli.Writing, voiceover, music, and post-production by eArs.Co-funded by the 2025 National Tourism Fund.Visit visitpedemontana.com to learn more about our itineraries and immerse yourself in the local landscape.