Tom`s travels: Barcis, Piancavallo & Polcenigo (14/08/2022)

On a sunny weekend, my dad and I decided to go hiking from Jesolo. We left early in the morning driving north and stopping first in the small village of Barcis. Here we parked the car and then walked around to see the main highlight, Barcis Lake. This artificial lake was formed during the 1950s by damming the Cellina River and is now a popular spot. We walked around part of its shore admiring its clear green-blue water reflecting the surrounding peaks. We then had a little stroll through the village, which had suffered destruction during WWII, and then headed back to the car. From there we then drove up a nearby mountain to reach Piancavallo, a mountain hamlet located at 1280m above sea level. It sits right below Monte Cavallo, which rises up to 2251m above sea level and dominates the large plain below all the way to the sea. Once there we parked the car and saw that the place was getting fuller and fuller as time passed. We got on our backpacks and started following trail number 992 which would lead us to the Col Cornier. We first hiked through a nice forest, steadily heading uphill, and then past some of the ski slopes which in the winter are very popular. Then the forest gave way to open prairie and eventually to the Col Cornier at 1730m above sea level. From there we had an incredibly 360 degrees view over the surroundings. To the side and below the hamlet of Piancavallo, close by Mount Cavallo, and in the distance the peaks of the Dolomites, unmistakable due to their unique appearance. We could also make out nearby the Pian del Cansiglio, a large mountain plateau, and below the large plain all the way to the sea. We took a short break to eat the sandwiches we had brought with us for lunch and in the meantime enjoy the beautiful view. After that, we then continued on along the trail arriving at a crossroad where we then decided to head back down to Piancavallo passing by the now grass-covered ski slopes. After getting back to the car we saw the whole place had filled up and there was loud music and people covering the whole area around the hamlet. We then drove off and down the mountain, stopping then at the small town of Polcenigo. Here we first visited the Sorgente del Gorgazzo, the spring where the Gorgazzo River, which then flows in the Livenza River, is born. Unfortunately, the spring was nothing like the photos, instead of a deep clear blue, it was rather greenish and covered in leaves. In fact, due to the recent droughts, the spring was really low and only barely came out for us to see it. However, the spring is still rather deep, and below that gathering of leaves covering it, it heads so deep down that it has never been fully explored. In 2019 the lowest point so far was reached at -219 but apparently, there is still more left deeper. It is in fact the second deepest karst spring in Europe after the one in Provence. After the unfortunate state of the spring, we decided to visit the old town of Polcenigo nearby, part of the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy. We entered the old town from the northern side, walking through its nice street lined with old buildings. We reached the main square, Piazza Plebiscito, where the beautiful Venetian-style 18th-century palace, Palazzo Fullini-Zaia, is set. My dad decided to stop a the bar and sit down with a drink while I explored the rest of the town. I walked over the bridge crossing over the now mostly dry Gorgazzo River and then started heading up the ramp leading up to the church of San Giacomo. The building was originally constructed during the 13th century but later expanded and changed during the 17th century. I visited the interior and then continued a little further up to reach the town's castle. Now mostly in ruins, it consists of the surviving parts of an 18th-century Venetian villa built on top of the old medieval castle. Its current state is due to damages from WWI and the 1976 earthquake that hit the region. I walked through the empty shell of the building, with no roof and only the walls remaining. However, it was still interesting to see it so and enjoy also the view of the old town below. After the visit I then headed back down into town and walked through the rest of the streets, passing by some splendid residences such as the 16th-century Renaissance palace, Palazzo Zaro. At the southern end of town, I then reached the church of San Rocco, a small building possibly from the 14th century characterized by its unusual low, squat, square bell tower, maybe once a medieval defensive tower. I then completed the round of the town by reaching once again the main square where I joined my dad for a drink before then driving back to Jesolo.