Parco Naturale Regionale dei Colli Berici
Just ten minutes by bus from Vicenza's centre, the Colli Berici Regional Natural Park is a compact limestone plateau draped in oak woodland, vineyards and meadows that burst with wild orchids in April and May. It is where Vicentini go on weekends to hike, cycle and eat at rustic hillside osterie — and where almost no foreign tourists venture.
Walking the Berici Hills
The park's network of signed trails covers around 150 km of paths. A favourite loop starts from the village of Brendola, climbs through oak forest to the ridge, and descends past 16th-century Palladian villas and their walled gardens — some still privately owned and visible only from the lane below.
The limestone terrain means sudden rocky outcrops with wide views south toward the Po Plain, and small caves sheltering colonies of bats. The rare Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea) appears along sunny path edges in late April — keep your eyes on the verges.
Osterie and Local Wine
The Berici hills produce a DOC wine — Colli Berici — including a local red called Tai Rosso (made from Tocai Rosso grapes) that is earthy, lightly tannic and pairs perfectly with the grilled meats served at hillside osterie. Look for the Osteria da Penacio in Zovencedo, a no-frills room with a terrace and a kitchen that has barely changed in 40 years.
Driving or cycling the ridge road between San Gottardo and Barbarano Mossano on a clear day gives views that stretch from the Dolomites to the Apennines — the kind of panorama that makes you understand why Palladio built so many villas on these slopes.
More of Vicenza
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Vicenza →
