For two years in a row I had been willing to admire the foliage in Veneto but without success. My timing wasn’t perfect. You see, foliage is not predictable. On average it will be well visible around a certain date, but then… the weather and the trees decide. So, whether I arrived too early (trees still green) or too late (fallen leaves and skeletal trees), I had never seen a foliage in Veneto worthy of his name.
Last year, it could have been a bit better but… I was pretty satisfied by nature’s contribution.
Matteo and I drove along the winding road leading to the Piana del Cansiglio, a beautiful plateau north of Treviso, surrounded by woods (mostly beeches and spruces). This area is one of the largest in Italy, with over 7.000 hectares of woodland, divided between Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.
For lunch we stopped at a kiosk selling panini, taglieri (cold cuts and cheese) and other mountain style dishes to be eaten al fresco (it was sunny and still quite warm at the end of October) or inside (just 4-5 tables). There’s no toilet there, so we moved for caffé at the nearest tavern (2 minutes away by foot, at the crossroads). There, trees were still green or quite.
After lunch, the best part. We drove towards the top of a mountain, Monte Pizzoc, 20 minutes or so of winding road, surrounded by beech trees, dressed in orange and yellow leaves. Almost arrived at the parking, the panorama changed: barren hills, scattered with white rocks, here and there a small house and in the distance a sheep flock.
On the top of the mountain, the view was spectacular. It was a foggy day in the plain below us.
So we could see a sea of fog, and then, higher, the mountain peaks around us, the golden and orange trees and the green meadows.
I finally saw the foliage in Veneto I so longed to see.
In one of the pics you will surely notice some writings made by (I suppose) youngsters using small rocks. I have still not made up my mind about this, whether I like them or not.
I was told that in a certain point in these woods you can meet deers, but unfortunately I didn’t spot any. Next time!
The Cansiglio area can also be a destination for trekking lovers, since there are several possibilities for hikings of different difficult levels. There is also a golf course. And horse trails too. I spotted a couple of brave cyclists passing by.
It is surely worth a second visit in another period of the year to go for a hiking and stop at another local trattoria to taste local food. And… look for the deers.
