Description

This route leads directly to the colorful center of Fiera di Primiero, a picturesque village in the Primiero Valley that surprises its visitors for the numerous sights putting together history, nature and the vitality the village can offer, especially during the tourist season. This downhill walk is immersed in its first part in the fresh forest on the slopes of Mount Bedolé, along the Signpost No. 359, then it proceeds towards the bottom of the valley by following the cycle path, passing near the village of Sirór and arriving directly in the center of Fiera di Primiero.

From Maso Raris (1,154 m asl), head slightly downhill towards the nearby houses, heading E; after 50 m, once you have reached the houses, walk the further 50 m along the gravel road descending to the main road SS 50 of Passo Rolle, near the bus stop of Valmesta (1,126 m asl). Once by the main road, you follow it uphill for about a hundred meters, until you reach the crossroads with the path of the Signpost No. 359, which starts on the right towards Piana / Sirór. The very first part of the descent proceeds pleasantly along the eastern borders of the meadows of Valmesta, on the cobbled track; once you leave the meadows behind you, the path begins to descend steeply towards the bed of the Cismón torrent, in a stretch that might feature some slippery sections in mid-seasons, where it is needed to be careful. After crossing the stream of Rio Valmesta, the steep descent leads to the green meadows of the location called Piana di Sirór, laying between the village of Sirór and the hydroelectric plant of Zivertaghe, where the slope becomes gentler and where the path joins a gravel road that runs alongside the Cismón stream. After the bridge called Pont del Fritz (927 m asl), the gravel road turns – by the crossroads with the San Martino di Castrozza – Sirór cycle and pedestrian path – into a beautiful paved road, which proceeds along the bed of the Cismón up to a second bridge that crosses it, hence taking the route back to the torrent’s right side. From this point, a long but pleasant descent begins on the same side of the torrent, which allows you to gradually approach the inhabited centres of the valley floor, visible in front of you and dominated by the spectacular Dolomite mountain range of Vette Feltrine (to the S). The first village to cross is that of Nolésca, a hamlet belonging to the nearby village of Sirór, visible on the left, towards W; after passing the bridge of the main road SS50 that connects Nolésca with Sirór with an underpass, the hike proceeds on a slight slope downhill that leads in less than a kilometer to the park of Vallombrosa, located N of Fiera di Primiero, from which it will be enough to continue for 200 m along the street of Via Monte Grappa to arrive directly in the center of Fiera di Primiero (710 m asl).

Since the XV century, Fiera di Primiero has been the most relevant municipality in Primiero Valley, and represents its commercial center. The village developed together with the mining industry and its name literally translates to “the market of Primiero”. During the Italian fascism, Fiera was aggregated into the bigger municipality of Primiero, for then re-gaining administrative autonomy after the end of the Second World War. Autonomy which will last for another 70 years. On the 1st of January 2016, Fiera di Primiero municipality was merged into the new municipality of Primiero San Martino di Castrozza. Before that, with its 15 hectares, Fiera di Primiero was the second smallest municipality in Italy.

Pieve is the historical part of Fiera di Primiero. Interesting monuments to see are the following (don’t worry, they are all one next to the other): Church of Santa Maria Assunta, Palazzo delle Miniere (the former seat of the magistrate responsible for controlling mines and taxation office), Church of San Martino (XI century Romanesque church that was then converted to a baptistery), House of Luigi Negrelli, Hotel Orsingher (ancient building of the XV century), Ancient rectory (building dated XVI century) and Casa Patria (traditional building of the XVIII century).

From Fiera di Primiero, it is possible to head back to Maso Raris by taking, directly from the bus station (timetable here), the bus connecting Fiera with San Martino di Castrozza, up to the location of Valmesta.