Piloton of Montorio

It is an example of a bètylo (type of megalith of sacred origin) erected in a very remote time on the ridge known as "Preafita". The betyls were always placed in sacred places, and in this case in coincidence with a volcanic chimney which for the ancients meant "place touched by God", and had the purpose, with their phallic shape, of propitiating fertility.
They then gave man the possibility of following the movements of the stars, of creating a calendar and also a solar, lunar and stellar clock.
Recent studies, first conducted by prof. Umberto Grancelli and then Giovanni and Alberto Solinas, revealed how its origin is connected with the three villages in the area existing in the Middle Bronze Age (around 1500 BC): Forte John, Monte Pipaldolo and Monte Tesoro.
The professor. Grancelli claimed that our Piloton was one of the points of reference in the foundation plan of Roman Verona (148 BC).
In support of this thesis he demonstrated how "this monolith [which] rises on the ridge above Montorio and, aligned with the Cardo of Verona (via Pellicciai), marks the point of the solstitial dawn of Verona".
In 1950 it was measured by Giovanni Solinas: height m. 3.20 on the ground, circumference at the base m. 2.05 and at the top m. 1.80. Today it is reduced in height, probably due to lightning.
Finally, it is curious to note that five paths start from the Piloton: the first towards the North leads to the complex of S. Fidenzio, the second towards the North-East reaches Mizzole, the third towards the South-East leads to Montorio (ancient Pieve), the fourth to the south it coincides with the ridge path and the fifth to the west arrives in Novaglie.

Reference point on the Montorio ridge and crossroads of footpaths and MTB trails

The Piloton is an example of a betyl (a type of megalith of sacred origin) erected in very ancient times on the ridge known as "Preafita." Betyls were always placed in sacred places, and in this case, on a volcanic vent, which for the ancients meant "a place touched by God." Their phallic shape served to promote fertility.
They also enabled humans to track the movements of the stars, create a calendar, and even a sundial, lunar, and star clock.