THE PALLADIO QUARRIES

"OF WATER AND ROCK..."

Difficulty Level: Medium

Difference in altitude: 300 metres

Minimum altitude: 15 m above sea level

Altitudine Max: 264 m slm

Length: 10 km

Walking time: 3/4 hours

For: For 10 years

History

Nature

Food

Traditions

WHAT WE WILL DO

The goal of this excursion, suitable for everyone, is to convey the beauty that the union between nature and human ingenuity can harmoniously manifest. The area of interest includes the only glacial lake, formed approximately 15,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. With the retreat of the glaciers, the area underwent significant geological transformations that led to the creation of a natural basin. The lake's waters, nourished primarily by springs and precipitation, have given rise to a rich and diverse ecosystem, which we will have the opportunity to admire from unique views of the surrounding hills. This area represents not only a natural treasure within the Berici Hills, but also a testament to history and culture. We will visit, hidden by vegetation, the remains of the quarries where "Vicenza stone" was extracted, a material used to build numerous Palladian villas and palaces in Vicenza. These rock "monuments" are not only an important cultural and historical resource, but also a unique ecosystem worthy of preservation. The abandoned "caves" have become refuges for various species, mammals, amphibians and plants, creating a habitat rich in biodiversity and fascinating at the same time.