Discover Valstagna – Karst, the Brenta and the Alta Via del Tabacco

In Valstagna, the karst landscape, the history of the river and paths through the Brenta Valley come together. The Grotte di Oliero, the Brenta, the Calà del Sasso and the Alta Via del Tabacco represent different ways of discovering the area.

Holiday apartment in Valstagna between culture and karst

The Museo etnografico Canal di Brenta documents the life and history of the Brenta Valley through historical photographs, farming artefacts and historical information. The Museo di Speleologia e Carsismo “A. Parolini” is also dedicated to the landscape. It is located at the entrance to the Grotte di Oliero system and explores geology through minerals, fossils and the chemistry of the karst process. Near Valstagna, the Grotte di Oliero are a classic karst phenomenon from which the springs of the Oliero River emerge.

The path through the Grotte di Oliero park passes beneath high rock walls, where a diverse rock flora can be seen. A boat trip of about 30 minutes explores the underground world of the Grotta Parolini at Oliero. Here, the above-ground rocky landscape and the underground perspective are experienced side by side as distinct natural environments.

Paths steeped in history

The Museo etnografico Canal di Brenta also tells the story of transporting timber via the medieval staircase of the Calà del Sasso and then by raft along the river. The Calà del Sasso has an upper entrance next to the hamlet of Sasso di Asiago and a lower entrance not far from the church in Valstagna.

Hiking along the Alta Via del Tabacco

The Alta Via del Tabacco is a route in the Canale del Brenta–Valstagna area. It links the paths along the right-hand orographic side of the Valbrenta and is also presented as the “Museo Diffuso Alta Via del Tabacco”. This connects the settlements on the slopes with the historic terraces. The section from Costa to Valstagna is about 10 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 600 metres and takes approximately 3.5 hours on foot.

River, contrade and waterfalls

The Palio delle Zattere is a historical-cultural and sporting event. The rafts of Valstagna’s nine contrade compete along a three-kilometre stretch of the Brenta River. The rock steps of the Calieroni waterfalls are also located by the Contrada Torre, between which the Frenzela cascades downhill. Alongside its tranquil karst landscape, Valstagna thus also reveals a side shaped by the river and local tradition.

Practical information for your stay

From Bassano del Grappa, take the Valsugana state road north towards Trento. At Valstagna, cross the bridge over the Brenta and turn north towards Costa to reach the Alta Via del Tabacco.

Discover more places

If you would like to discover more places in addition to Valstagna: Malo, Bosco di Tretto, Mure, Lovara, Lastebasse, Preara-Moraro-Levà Nord, Roana, Chiampo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Vicenza.