This itinerary is a simple walk stretching between the villages of Tonadìco and Sirór, in the northern part of the bottom of the Valley of Primiero. The characteristic of these two villages, located at the foot of the steep slopes of the summit of Monte Cimèrlo and divided by a small piece of farmland, is their pleasant and purely rural atmosphere, which preserves a typical and historically accurate architecture you can expect in mid-mountain villages.
The loop initially runs through the narrow streets of Tonadìco, considered the oldest inhabited center of Primiero. After passing by the center, the hike is climbing and reaching its highest point on the top of the promontory where the Church of San Vittore is located. From the church, from which you can enjoy a remarkable view of the entire territory of Primiero San Martino di Castrozza and over the mountain range of Vette Feltrine, the route proceeds in a downhill stretch on a steep path with steps, which leads again near the village. From here, the walk continues west along the panoramic road of Via Sirór, also known as the “Campagna Alta” (tr. high farmland). After a gentle climb that leads to a brow, you quickly reach the village of Sirór, which is characterized by its typical historic center, with large polygonal stone water pipes and popular paintings on the facades of the houses. Not surprisingly, due to the intimate atmosphere offered by Sirór, every year the village hosts the oldest Christmas markets in the Province of Trento.
The way back to Tonadico proceeds along Via Lazer, also known as “Campagna Bassa” (tr. low farmland), where it is possible, with a small variant, to take a look of what remains of the Church of San Giacomo, the only visible evidence of what presumably was the ancient village of Piubàgo, destroyed by a flood and a subsequent earthquake between 1.114 and 1.117 AD.
TONADICO
- Although Tonadico is the oldest village in the valley, of which it was the political center and residence of the “captain” of the castle called “Castello della Pietra” – perched in the north of the village -, an etymological origin of its name is not clear.
- Tonadico preserves some monuments of particular historical and artistic importance, such as the Church of San Vittore, which takes its name from the patron saints of the Municipality of Feltre (at the time of its construction the territory was part of the Diocese of Feltre), the so-called Lisièra and Palazzo Scopoli, built in the year 1000 AD, which had an initial function of warehouse for the local community and then became the residence of the vicar of the Bishop of Feltre.
- The Church of San Vittore, built between the 5th and 6th centuries, is the oldest in the Community. The small church has inside numerous frescoes of great artistic interest.
- The inhabitants of the town of Tonadìco bear the nickname of “strighi” (tr. witches). The origin of the nickname can be led, with a slight forcing, to the legends around the castle and to the fact that the inhabitants were considered malicious, perhaps as a result of the middle age witch trials, held in Tonadico.
SIRÓR
- The historical origin of the name of the village of Sirór is not clear; however, with a little bit of intuition, it is possible to combine the name of the town with its geographical position relative to the bottom of the Valley of Primiero (superiór: sirór).
- The town has the typical features of a mountain village, with numerous frescoes depicting local legends and the activities of the past, in addition to the typical architectural structures linked to a place with a strong rural appeal, such as polygonal water pipes.
- The residents of Sirór bear the nickname of “slapazuche” (tr. pumpkins eaters). This nickname derives from the legend involving the inhabitants of another village: Transacqua. Legend said that the inhabitants of Transacqua bought a bell from Siror, which had to be repaid with a cart of pumpkins, never delivered to Sirór; since then the inhabitants of Transacqua became those who do not pay their debts and the inhabitants of Sirór those who eat pumpkins.
References
- Tissot, L. (1996). Dizionario Primierotto. Editore Manfrini.
