Via Nova

Entirely sunny, Via Nòva – or “Via Nuova” – is an historical trail that connects the village of Pieve (Fiera di Primiero) to Passo Gòbbera, binding together streets and paths that connected the numerous huts and meadows scattered on the southern side of Mount Bedolé. The route, surrounded by nature, is very pleasant and within everyone’s reach. In fact, it has constant and never too steep slopes, it features numerous water pipes and it can be easily walked even during winter, thanks to its sun exposure. Via Nòva, a great classic for the valley inhabitants, alternates beautiful views, both over the Primiero Valley and the opposite Dolomite groups of the Vette Feltrine and Cimónega, with pleasant stretches in the forest. The itinerary includes the return along the same route as the way up; consequently it is easy to manage the schedule: if you want to walk 3 hours, you will have to head back 1h 30. Also, consider that the complete trail of Via Nòva is about 8 km long and requires a total of about 5-6 hours of walking back and forth.

The route starts near the Archpriest Church of Pieve, a building dated back to the middle ages, standing in front of the other historic building called Palazzo delle Miniere. The itinerary starts by heading towards SW, along Via San Rocco, where you can admire the characteristic houses of the small village and the shrine of the Plague. 150 m after passing the shrine, the track reaches a crossroads (720 m asl) which coincides with the beginning of the Via Nòva trail. Following the signs towards Passo Gòbbera, the climb begins along the mule track of the Signpost No. 357, leaving the village behind and entering the forest. After 1.5 km, the itinerary reaches the crossroads of Piani di Molarén (810 m asl), where the Signpost No. 357, after crossing the Signpost No. 379, continues flat along the wide mule track, always towards Passo Gobbera.

Once left the location of Piani di Molarén, perhaps the most interesting stretch of the Via Nòva begins. Wavy and about 2.5 km long, this stretch alternates the coolness of the forest with small meadows that allow the view to open onto the villages of Mezzano and Imèr. After passing the location of Noàl (870 m asl), you cross a series of small, unstable and water-rich valleys (where maintenance work has been going on for decades); after passing by the locations of Sforzeléta delle Raie (875 m asl), Maciodi (875 m asl) and Rizol (880 m asl), the route converges on the asphalted road at the location of Croséta (890 m asl). The Via Nòva trail continues following the road, which leads to the beautiful meadows of Prà dei Elìe (930 m asl) and Solàn (945 m asl).

From Solàn, where it is possible to admire the shrine of St. James and some typical architectures, the road continues through a beautiful beech forest, until it reaches the junction of the Col dei Faghèri (950 m asl), from where the Via Nòva would descend towards the SP79 road of Passo Gòbbera. However, instead of getting to Passo Gòbbera from the main road, from the junction of Col dei Faghèri the itinerary turns right, towards Solàn Grànt, which can be reached after a few hundred meters uphill. After passing the majestic beech tree of Solàn Grànt, located in the center of the meadow, the route leaves the paved road and takes a barely visible path that crosses the meadow on the left. Entering the forest, the path crosses a small valley and then faces, on the rhs, a last ramp that leads to the characteristic Col dei Bèttega: a group of farmhouses of peasant origin located close to Passo Gòbbera. The view that anticipates the descent (and arrival) to Passo Gòbbera (989 m asl) is particularly graceful, with the small picturesque village that separates the Valley of Primiero from the one of Vanoi, at the foot of the dark northern wall of Mount Totóga.

Paths

• From Pieve (720 m asl), go up along the Signpost No. 357 “Via Nova”, until reaching Solàn, passing by the locations of Piani di Molarén and Croséta (890 m asl) [1h 30],
• From Solàn (945 m asl), proceed along the path of the Signpost No. 357 “Via Nova” until getting to the crossroads of Col dei Faghèri [1h 50],
• From the junction of Col dei Faghèri (950 m asl), keep the rhs, towards Solàn Grànt [2h 10],
• From Solàn Grànt, leave the paved road and take the barely visible path that crosses the meadow on the left, then go up – on the right – to Col dei Bèttega [2h 20],
• From Col dei Bèttega, descend to Passo Gòbbera (989 m asl) [2h 30]. ✓