The ancient Trades Path

The Tour

The 'Sentiero dei Vecchi Mestieri' (Old Trades Trail) follows ancient paths that have linked the two sides of Valle di Cembra from time immemorial.

moderate

13.3 km

6:00 h

836 m

810 m

Whereas the existence of such paths helps explain, for instance, why in the past young people from Sover frequently ended up marrying young people from Grauno or Grumes, the presence of paths across the 'Dossone di Cembra' (i.e. the ridge separating Valle di Cembra from Valle dell'Adige) paved the way for seasonal workers to descend to the Unterland/Bassa Atesina (the area around Auer/Ora, Neumarkt/Egna and Salurn/Salorno). Following severe flood damages in 1966, the network of cross-river paths seemed to have been lost for ever, but extensive restoration work is now under way. The trail reweaves the ethnographic fabric of the Upper Valle di Cembra as it once was and makes it possible to see and/or visit various ancient man-made structures and tradesmen's workshops, some of which remained in use until the 1950s: limekilns (they are, admittedly, not easy to spot in a geological landscape that is so overwhelmingly dominated by the presence of Permian porphyry); watermills driven by water diverted from impetuous streams; and smithies. The trail also has a naturalistic facet which is just as fascinating as the ethnographic one: the gorge of the Avisio River is namely a striking example of pristine, wild, untamed landscape.

Details

Difficulty

moderate

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Highest point

988 m

Lowest point

599 m

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Safety information

Prepare your itinerary beforehand
Choose an itinerary that suits your physical abilities
Choose suitable clothes and equipment
Check the weather forecast
Hiking by yourself is more risky; if this is the case, take a mobile phone with you
Leave information about your itinerary and your expected return time
If you are not sure about your itinerary, contact an Alpine Guide
Pay attention to signposts and directions that you find along your way
Do not hesitate in going back if you feel too tired
In case of emergency call 112

Please note that the practicability of the itineraries in a mountain environment is strictly linked to the contingent conditions and is therefore influenced by natural phenomena, environmental changes and weather conditions. For this reason, the information contained in this page may have changed. Before leaving for a tour, make sure the path you will approach is still accessible by contacting the owner of the mountain hut, the alpine guides or the visitor centres of the nature parks, the info offices of the local tourist board.

Equipment

Even on relatively short easy outings make sure to take all you need so you don't run into trouble if things take an unexpected turn, for example a storm blows up or you have a sudden drop in energy levels.

What you should have in your rucksack:

water canteen (1L)
snacks (e.g. mixed dried fruit or chocolate)
First aid kit
windproof jacket
fleece
change of t-shirt and socks (in a plastic bag)
make sure to wear or at least bring a pair of long trousers
hat
sun screen
sunglasses
gloves
whistle to attract attention in an emergency
emergency telephone number Mountain Rescue 112

Make sure you're wearing the right footwear for the trail and season. The going can get rough and rocky underfoot and a pair of hiking boots will protect you from sprains.

And finally... don't forget to bring your camera! You'll need it to capture the stunning views.

Turn-by-turn directions

From Grauno, the route takes you down to the Avisio River first along pleasant roads, then along paths through wild, fascinating landscape. In the past, the inhabitants of Grauno used this route to reach plots of cultivated land that extended almost right down to the bank of the Avisio River. The route was also used to do small trade with Sover, Montesover and Piscine or just to visit friends or relatives on the other side of the river. Such contacts were suddenly interrupted when the bridge across the river ('Pont da La Rio') was swept away by floods in 1966 and they could only be resumed 43 years later, i.e. when the bridge was rebuilt in 2009. At Maso dei Molini (a small cluster of watermills on the opposite bank of the river), you can turn left into the 'Sentiero dei vecchi mestieri'. This very picturesque route runs along the bank of the river for quite a while before reaching Maso Pianacci. From there, a steep road takes you to Piscine. In order to get from Piscine to Sover, you can either take a dirt road (fitness trail) that forks off in the lower half of the village or ignore that fork, follow the main (i.e. provincial) road, and walk back down to Maso dei Molini. After crossing back the Avisio River, you reach Maso La Rio, and from there you can walk along another section of the Old Trades Trail which takes you back to Grauno. From Maso La Rio, the route takes you past the ruins of watermills that were abandoned in the 1960s to two recently restored workshops: a smithy and a Venetian-type sawmill (the latter stands by the old main road). Higher up, you come across another watermill ('Molino Cristofori'). From there, it's only a few minutes' walk to Grauno. This trail never fails to leave hikers with a number of unforgettable sights.

Getting There

Getting there

By car: From south or north, on the A22 Brennero motorway, leave the motorway at the Trento Nord exit (22.5 km from the toll gate), continue northwards on the Main Brennero Road SS12 until the turn-off for Lavis, then take the Lavis - Castello di Fiemme Main Road SS612 which will take you to the Cembra Valley.

Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

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