Top 7 Caves around Arzignano

A World War I shelter/cave depot, beneath the San Vittore hill. It was part of the complex military system of Orthogonale 1, an Italian defensive line that ran from the Piccole Dolomiti (Campogrosso Pass) to the outskirts of Vicenza (Monteviale), following the hilly ridge between the Agno Valley and the Leogra Valley (which then opens onto the plain). Orthogonale 1 was built after repelling the Strafexpedition of 1916, when an Austro-Hungarian invasion from the two valleys materialized. Along this line, there are sporadic, more or less visible, remnants of the Great War: cave shelters, trenches, emplacements, mule tracks, and carriageways (now mostly paved). This tunnel has a narrow entrance and is unexpectedly long, winding for about twenty meters in total darkness. The most impressive thing, however, is the large colony of cave crickets that inhabit it: these light-shy creatures, disturbed by the flashlight, suddenly start jumping in dozens everywhere... a nightmare scene! Avoid if insects disgust you. https://ortogonale1.com

Road that leads from Faedo to Monte di Malo

Descent from Faedo towards Monte di Malo

An extremely evocative and interesting site, hidden and unexpected, almost surreal: it surprises with its vastness and the slender square columns supporting the titanic ceiling... it feels like being inside a temple in ancient Mesopotamia or in the mines of Moria from Tolkien's memory! The Priàre (from 'pria', meaning stone in the Venetian dialect) are a complex of underground quarries and tunnels for the extraction of the renowned "soft Vicenza stone," active from Roman times until the mid-20th century. During the bombings of World War II, the quarries were used by the inhabitants of Montecchio as a refuge; between 1972 and 1985, they were exploited as a mushroom farm, thanks to the humidity and constant temperature throughout the year; Afterwards, they were abandoned until their redevelopment and safety measures in 2000. Vicenza Stone is a highly prized material, always highly appreciated and sought after in architecture and construction: beyond its aesthetic appeal, it is soft and malleable when freshly quarried, but upon contact with air, it "seasons," hardening and becoming extremely resistant over time. This rock was used to build the Montecchio fortresses and by Andrea Palladio for his works. It has always been quarried strictly by hand, using the same technique for millennia, in square blocks; this is why the quarries have such a geometric appearance. Open Sunday afternoon; entry is only possible with a (very interesting) guided tour lasting about 40 minutes; admission is €3. Please note that payment by POS is not possible due to the lack of signal. https://www.prolocoaltemontecchio.it/cosa-vedere/le-priare/

Nice circular tour with very little asphalt and many paths immersed in the nature of the small Dolomites

To admire this curious phenomenon, a detour from the main road is necessary. Once you reach the place, just look out into the well (with a diameter of about 50 cm) from which what is sometimes called "dragon's breath" seems to emerge from. It is nothing more than a karst cavity (characteristic of the Faedo-Casaron plateau) from which fresh air comes out (which varies between 7 and 13 degrees). Especially in the summer period, the typical rustle of the exchange of hot and cold air masses at the mouth of the cave is clearly audible. The cavity, commonly called "Buso del Lucio", was discovered by the Maladense speleologist Lucio Zanini. The valley that you travel along following the Campipiani-Faedo path is called “Valle dei Vischi”. The origin of this name is not known but it probably refers to the sound effects (breathing, hissing, moaning) that the blowing caves produce in particular climatic conditions.

White road, without demanding climbs or descents, which intersperses meadows and woods.

Military road along the Lore valley, equipped with numerous shelters in caves which allowed the supplies of the line. Well-beaten surface, easily passable on gravel.