Le contrade di Badia Calavena e la pala eolica del Monte Pecora

The beautiful square of Badia Calavena, with the ancient cloister of the abbey enriching the evocative context, is the starting point of this long itinerary composed of two parts that can also be separated, with the hill of San Pietro and Mount Pecora as the two main highlights. From the square, one ascends for two switchbacks up the paved road that runs alongside the church, then begins to follow the steep path dedicated to Lucius III, a medieval pope who visited the Val d'Illasi during his papacy. Halfway up the hill, the ascent is interrupted for several hundred meters, where a comfortable flat path emerges from the dense forest and offers a splendid view of the wide valley below. At the height of a small spring, one resumes a rapid ascent until reaching the summit church dedicated to San Pietro, which stands on the remnants of an early settlement of friars and on the foundations of a medieval castle; the lateral rectory now houses a themed museum space dedicated to flint and prehistoric sites. Continuing along the beautiful dirt road, one arrives at contrada Campanari and, maintaining the ridge while ignoring the many crossings present, first reaches contrada Seri and then goes beneath Mount Pecora, dominated by the impressive structure of the wind generator active since 2008. As one climbs towards the top, the dimensions of the structure become apparent, towering over one hundred meters high with the blades aligned with the tower; from Mount Pecora, the panorama is stunning, stretching from the Euganean Hills to the Plain and up to the pre-Alpine peaks. The itinerary continues southward, alongside the underlying contrada Righetti until reaching the distinctive height of Il Casin, then following a dirt road that winds through the wooded valleys near Val dei Molini until reaching the abandoned contrada Signoretti and the large inhabited contrada Volpi. The bulk of Mount Pecora is always present along the pathway, which continues along the paved road until completing the circumnavigation of the mountain and picking up the trail back to the locality of Seri; upon reaching the contrada, one turns left and, following the dirt road through the broadleaf forest, arrives at the suggestive locality of Giri. Giri is a row of buildings facing southeast, partly renovated and now known for hosting the Brolo delle Biodiversità in the underlying terraces, a special cultivation of rare ancient varieties of mountain fruits. Following the dirt road, one quickly returns to the asphalt, at the height of a lush spring with an attached basin; continuing right, one ascends to Campanari and then to the Church of San Pietro, where one will return to Badia Calavena along the outward route.
Stages of the itinerary: Badia Calavena (469m) – Colle di San Pietro (675m) – Seri (750m) – Monte Pecora (869m) – Righetti (763m) – Il Casin (780m) – Signoretti (759m) – Volpi (755m) – Seri (750m) – Giri (669m) – Colle di San Pietro (675m) – Badia Calavena (469m).
Technical information
Difficulty: tourist/hiking itinerary with an average elevation gain primarily along dirt roads, paved roads, and paths through contradas and pasture fields with an ascent to the wind generator on Mount Pecora). Recommended period: all year round – suitable for trained hikers. The section of the wind turbine is suitable for everyone.
Traversability on foot or by Mountain Bike

• Length: 20.30 km
• Travel time: 6:30 hours
• Elevation: 600m
• Departure: Piazza Mercato, Badia Calavena