Cristo Pensante

It is probably worth mentioning that the trail called “Trekking del Cristo Pensante” is now one of the most classic and popular itineraries in the Primiero area. Designed by Pino Dallasega with the aim of allowing young people and families not only to appreciate the natural beauties of the area, but also to have a deeper connection with them, the hike of a few hours, ambitiously called with the name of “trekking”, goes from the pass of Passo Rolle up to the summit of Monte Castellazzo (Castelàz), upon which the statue of the “thinking Christ” or “pondering Christ” (Cristo Pensante) lays. After passing by the statue, the trail then descends to the famous hut of Baita Segantini. Therefore, in a short amount of time and with relatively little effort, the itinerary passes in succession through places that make it simply beautiful!

The starting point is by the mountain pass of Passo Rolle (1,984 m asl), near a large car park located just a few hundred meters from the gap, on the east side, towards the village of San Martino di Castrozza. From the parking lot, the trail starts with an uphill stretch on the gravel road with comfortable hairpin bends that immediately leads to a first crossroads, where you take the gravel road on the right leading to the hut of Capanna Cervino (2,084 m asl). Currently being a restaurant, the hut was born in the 1930s as the base of the ski school founded by Alfredo Paluselli, who gave this name to the building in honor of the peak of Cimon della Pala, called “the Matterhorn of the Dolomites” (Cervino is the Matterhorn) because of its characteristic shape. From the hut of Capanna Cervino, the route continues the ascent by keeping the gravel road and, after a wide hairpin bend and a subsequent curve, you reach yet another crossroads, at about 2,134 meters of altitude.

At the crossroads, the trail proceeds to the left heading north, taking the small path towards Monte Castellazzo, which can be easily seen by its appearance that recalls a natural fortress (hence the name of Castelàz, tr. ugly castle). After crossing some meadows until you reach an almost flat saddle, you head to the left, where the ascent of Monte Castellazzo begins and, developing on the western slope of the summit. The path, well maintained, has some slightly steep sections; it leads directly to the west of the summit, in the area of ​​the “Stóli del Castellazzo” (military outposts and tunnels dating back to the Great War). After passing the “Stóli”, you can easily reach the top of Monte Castellazzo (2,333 m asl) with the statue of Cristo Pensante. The sculpture, made by Paolo Lauton and placed in 2009 on the Castelàz – until then a mountain forgotten from the hiking world – was carved from a single block of white marble of Predazzo (Predazzite). As an additional note, the crown of the statue is made with barbed wire from the First World War.

From Monte Castellazzo the descent follows the path that continues to the north-east of the summit, on the opposite side of the way of the ascent, crossing further areas of remains of outposts of the Great War overlooking the underlying valley of Venegia and reaching the saddle between the peaks of Castellazzo and Costazza.

From the saddle, the path from is clearly identifiable and marked (Trekking del Cristo Pensante) and follows the signs for Baita Segantini. With some ups and downs, it turns around the southern side of the peak of Cima Costazza (2,282 m asl) and reaches, with a final flat stretch, the head of Val Venegia, where the hut of Baita Segantini (2,181 m asl) is located. The sight offered by Baita Segantini is amazing, with an extraordinary view of the peaks of Cimon della Pala, Vezzana, Mulaz and, more generally, of the entire western section of the Pale di San Martino.

From Baita Segantini, the way back to Passo Rolle proceeds initially following, for a few hundred meters, the gravel road towards Passo Rolle, then it takes downhill the path on the left that leads directly to the pass, passing again by Capanna Cervino.

Paths

• From the mountain pass of Passo Rolle (1.984 m asl), follow the gravel road ascending towards Capanna Cervino / Baita Segantini [0h 45],
• From the hut of Capanna Cervino (2,084 m asl), continue the ascent, always following the gravel road up to the crossroads at 2,134 m asl [0h 55],
• At the crossroads, take the path on the left, towards the north, heading to the summit of Monte Castellazzo [1h 20],
• From the top of Monte Castellazzo (2,333 m asl), descend along the path that continues north-east of the summit, following the signs towards Baita Segantini [2h 00],
• From the hut of Baita Segantini (2,181 m asl), start descending by following the gravel road for a few hundred meters, then take the path on the left which heads directly to Passo Rolle [2h 30]. ✓