Holiday apartment in Ferrara di Monte Baldo: nature, trails and history

Natural landscapes and botanical discoveries

In the Ferrara di Monte Baldo area, the Oasi del Monte Baldo encompasses the entire terrain above 1,200 metres and covers 3,800 hectares. A specific place to explore this landscape is the Orto Botanico di Novezzina. It is located in the municipality of Ferrara di Monte Baldo on the eastern slope of the massif at an altitude of 1,235 metres and covers 20,000 square metres.

Visits to the Orto Botanico di Novezzina are subject to clear conditions: it is accessible only by reservation, on dates to be arranged, and to groups of at least 10 people. In addition, the F2 circular trail runs through the Hortus Europe centre. Along the way, it introduces visitors to botanical rarities and provides an insight into life on the mountain pastures and their characteristic architecture.

The Museo della Biodiversità in Novezzina is dedicated to Francesco Calzolari, a Veronese pharmacist and botanist from the 16th century. The museum also explores the geological history of Monte Baldo through rocks and fossils. These include Harpactocarcinus punctullatus, a fossil from the Eocene sediments of Ferrara di Monte Baldo.

Hiking trails with different points of interest

Route F3 begins at Piazza General Cantore, follows CAI trail 674 and continues to Malga Orsa. Hiking route F1 begins at Piazza Generale A. Cantore in Ferrara di Monte Baldo and leads to Contrada Mezzavilla and the historic settlement of Campedello. F1 is part of the Baldo Val d’Adige mountain biking offering as the Ferrara di M.B. / Mezzavilla / Campedello route.

Another historic trail option is route F4: it begins in Novezza and leads to the first line of First World War trenches at Cavallo di Novezza.

Forest therapy and views over the Val d’Adige

Bosco di Monte Cor is located in the municipality of Ferrara di Monte Baldo and is the first forest in Veneto to be certified for forest therapy. The main trail is easy and mostly flat. Optionally, it can be extended into a circular route to viewpoints offering spectacular views over the Val d’Adige.

Stars and astronomical evenings

The Osservatorio Astronomico Monte Baldo “A. Gelodi” is the only public observatory in the Province of Verona. It belongs to the municipality of Ferrara di Monte Baldo and is operated by the Circolo Astrofili Veronesi. The Osservatorio Astronomico Monte Baldo “Angelo Gelodi” is located in Località Novezzina, 37020 Ferrara di Monte Baldo.

Public evenings at the Osservatorio Astronomico Monte Baldo “Angelo Gelodi” usually begin with a short astronomical talk. This is followed by a visit to the rooms and instruments and, weather permitting, the identification of the main constellations and telescope observations.

Church and traces of the First World War

The present form of the parish church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Ferrara di Monte Baldo dates back to the years 1870–1888. It was already mentioned in a papal bull in 1218 as a chapel subordinate to the Pieve of Caprino. During the First World War, the front ran through the territory of Ferrara di Monte Baldo; numerous trenches and fortifications, including the Sentiero di Caval di Novezza, are still visible there.

Other places for finding your bearings are San Martino Buon Albergo, Cisano Di Bardolino, Pedemonte, Martella, Cazzano di Tramigna, Cerea, Bionde and Bernardine.

For the broader travel overview: Verona.