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The Valley of the Mills of Mossano, which crosses Contrà dei Munari, is an enchanting corner of the Berici Hills: the stream, the ancient rustic buildings beautifully restored and three imposing wooden wheels still in operation make up a suggestive and picturesque environment, where time seems suspended. Beautiful in spring, when flowers and greenery frame the fascinating bucolic picture. Along this short valley, until the Second World War, twelve mills of medieval origin were active, which incessantly ground flour for the inhabitants of Mossano and the nearby villages. At the head of the valley, a permanent spring feeds the stream which in turn turns the wheels. Fun fact: the Contrà dei Munari (a Venetian surname that derives from millers) is also known as Via Calbin, because it is said that in the Middle Ages a certain Calbino collected a tax in exchange for the use of the stream; in case of non-payment, he activated a lock, interrupting the flow of water and therefore the work of the grinders!

The Grotta di San Bernardino is a small and fascinating medieval hermitage, nestled at the base of a ten-meter-high limestone pinnacle (the only rock tower in the entire Berici Hills). The building's façade encloses a karst cavity about thirty meters long and ten meters wide. An evocative and mysterious setting. According to tradition, the name derives from the shelter it provided to Saint Bernardino of Siena, who preached in these areas in the 15th century. In the early 16th century, this cave, like others in the Berici Hills, was adapted as a temporary refuge for the local populations, while the Venetian plain was subjected to enemy raids. The oldest prehistoric remains in the Vicenza area (tools and animal bones dating back 200,000 years) were found inside the cave: it was likely used by Neanderthals as a hunting base. Interesting fact: the abundance of animal bones was the main cause of soil removal and the resulting significant impoverishment of San Bernardino's paleontological heritage. In fact, in 1890, the Camerini family, owners of the site, had the rich phosphate material excavated from the cave. It was transported downstream by cableway and used as fertilizer for the fields! The cave is occasionally open to the public, with guided tours organized by the Mossano Tourist Board (Pro Loco), which you can contact for details. http://www.tuttoberici.it/arte/S-Bernardino-Grotta-Mossano.htm https://www.archeoveneto.it/portale/wp-content/filemaker/stampa_scheda_estesa.php?recid=189

The ancient fountain was built by the locals at a perennial spring that flows inside a cave. The spring feeds the stream of the suggestive Valle dei Mulini below, which once turned a dozen wheels. The basin was later adapted to a wash house and in more recent times much of the water has been captured for the local aqueduct.

Natural caves near the church of San Donato. Beautiful view of the plain and the Euganei.

Reachable by following path 72 starting from Villaga Fantastic view of the plain, as well as a place of historical interest

A passage beneath a striking rock roof, at the foot of a cliff that cuts through a steep forest. In the area, as throughout the Berici Hills, there are numerous unique karst features (ledges, cliffs, roofs, and caves), the result of differential erosion between rocks of varying compactness, formed in different geological eras. They have been used as shelter and dwellings since prehistoric times. P.S.: A 'cèngia' is a horizontal passage that cuts through a vertical wall; a 'còvolo' (Venetian dialect) is a ravine in the rock.

The covoli di San Donato are wonderful, panoramic. It is a place where an ancient church once stood close to the covoli; later it became a female Benedictine monastery. Now stands a church dating back to the nineteenth century. The walls also have some climbing routes.

Panoramic place on the valley below and on the Euganean hills on the bottom !!! The path to arrive, visit and return to Mossano is wonderful