トネッツァデルシモーネの滝・トップ12

This route is absolutely a very challenging one! We started hiking from Rotzo with children aged 5 to 10. It's just manageable up to the waterfalls and a very beautiful hike. At the waterfall itself, there's a pleasant flat section but with dangerously deep drops. The return route is downright dangerous from the start and not recommended. We explored the route a bit further, and there it's even risky for adults. Many other hikers turned back as well.

behind the small monument dedicated to the old border there is a place called IL GORGO it is an enchanting place with waterfalls and turquoise water

A foaming and thunderous waterfall cascades from the spring known as 'Gorgo Santo' (which can be visited a little further along, climbing the trail —> see related highlight). The small bridge actually spans two waterfalls, one upstream and one downstream. I recommend descending to the paved road below, on the border between the hamlets of Scalzeri and Longhi, for a spectacular view of the stream cascading through a series of rapid drops before flowing into the Astico River. I also recommend visiting this site after days of rain or when the snow has melted in the mountains, to see the water swollen and rushing!

Commemorative stone marking the former border between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. The border between the two states in the upper Astico Valley had a curious layout: from the hamlet of Busatti, upstream, to the village of Casotto, downstream, the territory to the left of the river was Austrian, while that to the right was Italian. Each citizen had its own route to travel this stretch of the valley, without having to cross the border: the Austrians had the current internal road, while the Italians had the current and parallel state road 350, which connects the Vicenza area to Trentino. At this point, just outside Casotto, the Torra stream marked the demarcation between the two states; the Braidi Bridge, guarded by a garrison, was an important passage for goods and people. With Italy's victory and the annexation of the unredeemed lands, it became the border between Trentino and Veneto. But in 1929, against the will of the inhabitants, a fascist decree imposed that Pedemonte and Casotto pass from the Province of Trento to that of Vicenza: the border between the two regions was moved further upstream, above the village of Lastebasse. An old photo illustrates a moment of conviviality and respect between Austrian customs officers and Italian Carabinieri, sitting at the same table. The original memorial stone is located in the Valdastico cemetery. https://www.freeforumzone.com/mobile/d/11171728/Valle-dell-Astico-e-le-due-strade-sul-confine-parallelo/discussione.aspx

A spectacular waterfall of considerable height, created by the stream of the same name, which flows into the Astico River just downstream. From what I can find online, "Pissavàca" (also spelled "Pissavacca" and "Pisciavacca") is a fairly common place name in the Triveneto region. The left bank of the Astico Valley is dotted with valleys of varying width, carved by streams that descend from the Luserna karst plateau and cut across its steep southern slope, creating spectacular rapids, gorges, and whirlpools. The presence or absence of water depends on rainfall or snowfall: to find a good flow of water, visit on days after rain.

A beautiful place in the Assa Gorge.

The Gorgo Santo is a spring that features a very rare phenomenon... Rainwater and snow water are not retained by the Luserna Plateau due to the karst composition of the terrain; instead, it flows down the valley through tortuous underground passages. Under normal conditions, it flows from the lower Gorgo Santo cave; however, in heavy rain or snow, the cave may be unable to handle the full flow, so the water is also released from the upper Gorgo Santo cave... a sort of safety valve. Pope Boniface IV (7th century) happened to pass through these parts during a trip and blessed the whirlpool: hence the name "santo." But there is another, more evocative and legendary, theory behind the name: it is said that here, Saint George defeated the Great Dragon that dwelt in the cave and dominated the valley! The presence or absence of water depends on rainfall or snowfall: to find a good flow of water, you should visit on days after it has rained; otherwise, you'll visit the whirlpool in its "dry" state.

Here, the Pach stream (which in the Cimbrian language actually means "stream") cascades over a thirty-meter (?) drop, forming a waterfall amidst lush vegetation. It's a charming spot, hidden in the heart of the forest, beneath the Rotzo basin, between the sheer cliffs of the Val d'Assa. Unfortunately, it's a stroke of luck to find an active waterfall instead of a trickle of water, due to the Pach's torrential nature and the increasingly dry seasons. The ideal time to visit is after heavy rains, but this makes the trail treacherous and slippery.