Discover Moerna: Culture, Trails and Mountain Landscape

Moerna Among Botany, Church Art and Mountain Trails

Moerna combines botanical discoveries, sacred art, historic trails and a distinctive mountain landscape. The Museo Botanico Don Pietro Porta is housed in a former cooperative dairy and is located opposite the birthplace of the botanist Don Pietro Porta. Its integrated exhibition is dedicated to botany and dairy farming. An interactive learning game for identifying plant species complements the representative local plant species collected by the botanist.

Culture in the Village and on the Foothills

The Church of San Bartolomeo Apostolo dates from the 15th century and stands above the village centre. Inside, there is a 15th-century Byzantine-inspired fresco depicting the Madonna and Child. The 16th-century frescoes include the coat of arms of the Counts of Lodrone. On the first Sunday in October, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated with a procession through the streets of Moerna.

Opposite Moerna lies the San Rocco foothill. The Church of San Rocco there was built between the 17th and 18th centuries. It contains an old altarpiece depicting Saint Roch, Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint Valentine, priest and martyr. At a viewpoint near San Rocco, an information board helps identify the surrounding peaks. The foothill offers views of Monte Caplone and Monte Tombea, whose summits are almost 2,000 metres high.

Hiking and Historic Trails

Moerna can be reached on foot or by vehicle via an asphalt road. Historic trails lead from Moerna towards Valle delle Chiese. The circular route through the villages of Valvestino follows old roads through Moerna. One specific circular hike leads from Moerna via Monte Stino and back to Moerna. It is 9.5 km long, has an elevation gain of 500 metres, takes 3 hours and is classified as an E-difficulty hiking trail. This route leads to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Idro, as well as to a position for a heavy machine gun and a gallery from the First World War on Monte Stino.

Mountain Bike Circular Routes

Several mountain bike routes pass through Moerna or include the village in their circular itineraries. The route “Moerna – Cingolo Rosso – Bondone – Bocca Cablone – Ponte Franato – Armo – Persone – Moerna” passes through these places and returns to Moerna. The circular route “Bersaglio – Turano – Moerna – Persone – Bersaglio” includes Moerna as part of its itinerary. Valvestino is also crossed by a Parco Alto Garda route between Turano, Moerna and Persone.

Village Character and Regional Speciality

Moerna was inhabited for many years by farming families who traded in the valley and at times worked as charcoal burners. In traditional charcoal production, the charcoal kiln is called “carbonaia” in Italian and “poiat” in the local dialect. The houses of Moerna are surrounded by carefully mown meadows. In Moerna, Azienda Agricola Porta Andreina and Azienda Agricola Eggiolini Elia produce the traditional Tombea cheese.

Other Places

Pregasio, Roncadelle, Colombare, Toscolano Maderno, Monticelli Brusati, Bovezzo, Padenghe Sul Garda, Capriolo

Brescia