The ancient church of San Zeno (San Zenone) was built above the hamlet of Casale and is accessible on foot via the “Ronchi alti” path.
From the church, perched on the slopes of Monte Cengio, one can admire the entire basin of Arsiero and Velo, where the valleys of Posina and Astico converge.
The location of the church, set back from the settlements of Casale and Schiri-Piangrande, confirms that it was not constructed by the residents, who would have built it closer to their homes, but, as in the case of S. Agata, it likely received external influence from religious communities. In fact, in a document from 1014, Emperor Henry II issued a privilege in favor of the Monastery of S. Zenone in Verona, confirming the possessions located in “Comitatu Vicentino”. The Mantese, commenting on this document, concludes that the origin of this church, like others in the Vicenza area, can be traced back to ancient possessions of the famous Veronese monastery and can certainly date back to periods prior to the year 1000.
The feast of the Saint, which was once celebrated on December 17, while in other places is celebrated in spring, confirms the influence of the Monastery of S. Zeno in Verona, which, by a bull issued on September 12, 895, established to receive the share of the harvest precisely during the Feast of San Zenone in December.
The church was kept by hermits until the 1700s (Hermitage), then during World War I it was used as a refuge by Italian soldiers. Destroyed by bombing, it was then rebuilt in the same location. The presence of the Nonantola monks, since the previously mentioned year 753, is the key to dating other churches in the area, particularly the church of San Senesio, built on the Hill of the Elm, just below the area where the castle once stood, by the monks and dedicated to S. Senesio, whose relics are located in Nonantola.
