Description

This itinerary starts from Imèr and passes by the little church called San Silvestro. It is a walk discovering the southern end of the Primiero Valley.

It is basically impossible to avoid noticing, while approaching the Primiero Valley through the Schenèr main road, the characteristic little church perched on a steep cliff and visible already from the hamlet of Pontét .

The hike starts in the very center of the village of ​​Imèr where, following the pedestrian path adjacent to the main road, in a short time you arrive in the village of Masi di Imer. This extremely small village perfectly portrays the agricultural past of the valley. Once leaving the village, on the right hand side, take the Signpost No. 346 towards San Silvestro.

The initial stretch of the Signpost No. 346 develops on a wide track that, after about ten minutes, becomes a small path in the forest. Shortly, after passing a gully, a fairly steep climb begins with hairpin bends, surrounded by beech trees. The path will lead you directly to the small church. 

From the top of the cliff where the little church of San Silvestro stands, it is possible to have a complete overview over the towns of Mezzano and Imèr, the Schenèr valley and the pastures of the Gòbbera pass (Passo Gòbbera). The walk then proceeds towards Passo Gòbbera. From the church, in about twenty, you will easily get to the mountain pass (989 m a.s.l.).

At Passo Gòbbera, after crossing the main road connecting the valley of Primiero to Vanòi one, a paved ramp that leads to the pasture of Col dei Bètteghe (1,033 m asl) begins. Surrounded by beautiful meadows and with a nice view over Passo Gòbbera, Col dei Betteghe is the highest point of the route.

The hike continues along the path, which will shortly allow you to reach the pasture of Solàn Grant, characterized by its impressive isolated beech tree. From this point, following downhill the paved road for a few hundred meters, you will get at the crossroad that allows you to take the Signpost No. 357, also known as Via Nòva.

The path of Via Nòva is an historical path that connects Passo Gòbbera with the village of Pieve, by the town of Fiera di Primiero. In the past, the path was used to bring raw materials to Transacqua‘s furnaces. While descending the Via Nòva, the walk passes rapidly through the hamlets and pastures of Solàn, Maso Prá, Fasierne and Coladìna. After crossing the bridge on the Rizòl stream, by the hamlet of Casiéi, you meet on the right hand side a path that leads back to Imèr.

Paths

• From the very center of the village of Imèr, head south towards Masi di Imèr (either by following the main asphalt road or on the path running parallel to the road of the Gòbbera pass),
• Once passed the entire village of Masi di Imèr, right before the junction with the main road, take the Signpost No. 346 towards San Silvestro,
• From the church of San Silvestro, keep following the Signpost No. 346 leading to Passo Gòbbera (989 m a.s.l.),
• From Passo Gòbbera, after having crossed the main road, climb up to Còl dei Bètteghe (1,033 m a.s.l.),
• From the pastures of Còl dei Bètteghe, keep following the path and, once getting on an asphalt road, turn on your right hand side and take the road until getting to the crossroads with the path of Via Nòva,
• Follow the Via Nòva (Signpost No. 357) for about 2.5 km and, once reached the hamlet of Casièi, head down to Imèr by simply following the signs. ✓

CHURCH OF SAN SILVESTRO

• Certainly, the presence of the ancient church right at the entrance of the Primiero Valley, on the steep cliff of the peak of Totoga, claims its roots in history and legend. The small church of San Silvestro (named after Pope Sylvester) was built in the 13th century. The church opens on May 1st, December 31st and on Easter Monday. It has always been a symbolic place for both Primiero and Vanoi valley’s identity.
• The story says that the place that was originally chosen for the construction of the church was much further downstream, next to the location of Masi (Imèr). The construction materials were left at that point, but the following day the builders found all the materials magically brought much higher (where the church sits today). After some attempts to bring the materials back to where the project was initially planned, the story continued in repeating itself, thus convincing the inhabitants of the presence of a divine will, indicating the correct place for the church.
• In the XVII century, it is reported the presence of a hermit, Cristoforo Segatta of Vigolo Vattaro, helped by the inhabitants of Imèr and Mezzano. Indeed, Segatta was not allowed to leave the church for more than 15 days a year.
• Inside the church, it is particularly interesting a fresco by Rocco Naurizio of AD 1544, representing Jesus and four evangelists in the form of animals and very similar to the fresco in the St. James chapel (Cappella di San Giacomo) in Tonadico, as well as the frescoes of scenes from the life and martyrdom of St. George, attributed to Marco from Mèl (AD 1540).
• Together with the churches of San Vittore, San Giovanni and Santa Romina, San Silvestro is one of the four edges of an almost perfect cross called “La Crosèra”. The cross, formed by two imaginary straight lines, was in the past a symbol of protection and devotion for the community of Primiero.

Passo Gobbera

Located at 989 m a.s.l., the Gòbbera pass (Passo Gòbbera) lays as a connection between the Primiero and the Vanoi valleys. By the small village at Passo Gòbbera, it is particularly interesting the XII century church dedicated to San Gottardo, renovated in 2010, as well as the calchèra (tr. old furnace), which has been also restored recently.