Ferrara Di Monte Baldo

Natural area on Monte Baldo with special places to visit

Ferrara di Monte Baldo combines alpine landscapes, botanical features, stargazing and traces of history. For planning your trip, the diversity of documented places is particularly interesting: it ranges from an extensive protected natural area to a botanical garden and a biodiversity museum, as well as historic paths and themed routes.

Landscape and botany in Novezzina

In the area of Ferrara di Monte Baldo, the Oasi del Monte Baldo encompasses the entire terrain above 1,200 metres and covers 3,800 hectares. The Orto Botanico di Novezzina offers more direct access to the plant world. It is located on the eastern slope of the Monte Baldo massif at an altitude of 1,235 metres and covers 20,000 square metres. Visits are only possible by reservation on dates to be agreed, for groups of at least 10 people. This restriction is part of the visiting arrangements and should be taken into account when planning a stay.

Observatory and biodiversity

The Osservatorio Astronomico Monte Baldo “Angelo Gelodi” is located in Località Novezzina, 37020 Ferrara di Monte Baldo. The Osservatorio Astronomico Monte Baldo “A.Gelodi” is the only public observatory in the Province of Verona, belongs to the municipality of Ferrara di Monte Baldo and is run by the Circolo Astrofili Veronesi. Public evenings usually begin with a short astronomy lecture. This is followed by a visit to the rooms and instruments and, weather permitting, identification of the main constellations and observations with telescopes.

The Museo della Biodiversità in Novezzina is dedicated to Francesco Calzolari, a Veronese pharmacist and botanist of the 16th century. The exhibition also explores the geological history of Monte Baldo through rocks and fossils. These include Harpactocarcinus punctullatus, a fossil from the Eocene sediments of Ferrara di Monte Baldo. The museum thus complements the botanical and astronomical perspectives with a look at the origins of the massif.

Historical traces and routes

During the First World War, the front ran through the area of Ferrara di Monte Baldo. Numerous trenches and fortifications are still visible there, including the Sentiero di Caval di Novezza. Route F4 begins in Novezza and leads to the first line of First World War trenches at Cavallo di Novezza. Hiking route F1 focuses on a different historical aspect: it begins at Piazza Generale A. Cantore and leads to Contrada Mezzavilla and the historic settlement of Campedello. Route F1 is listed in Baldo Val d’Adige’s mountain bike offering as the Ferrara di M.B. / Mezzavilla / Campedello route.

Route F3 begins at Piazza General Cantore and follows CAI trail 674 to Malga Orsa. The F2 circular route passes through the centre of Hortus Europe, introduces visitors to botanical rarities and conveys the way of life on the mountain pastures and their characteristic architecture. The routes therefore differ significantly in their thematic focus, without a visit being limited to a single type of landscape.

Forest therapy and local history

The Bosco di Monte Cor is located in the municipality of Ferrara di Monte Baldo and is the first forest in Veneto to be certified for forest therapy. Its main path is easy and mostly flat. Optionally, it can be extended as a circular route to viewpoints offering spectacular views over the Val d’Adige. For those interested in culture, the parish church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria complements the townscape: its present form dates from 1870–1888. It was already mentioned in 1218 in a papal bull as a chapel subordinate to one of the pievi of Caprino.

Other destinations for context

For further orientation, you can also view Bovolone, Spiazzi, Cerea, Costermano, Affi, Cavalcaselle, Sandra and Belluno Veronese.

To the main travel overview: Verona.