A short autumn hike to the Eremo di San Colombano and Lago di San Colombano in the Bassa Vallarsa near Rovereto
Image gallery: Hike to the San Colombano Hermitage
Our path to the Vallarsa gorge and the Chiesa di San Colombano starts at the junction to Trambileno along the road from Rovereto to the municipality of Vallarsa. The ancient San Colombano Hermitage was built into a rock wall and is known for being an important symbol of the region.
We follow the signpost "Eremo di San Colombaino" and descend to the valley where we cross the bridge over the Leno di Vallarsa stream and ascend the 102 steps to the hermitage. It is said that this place was inhabited by the first hermit already in the 8th century and 1,000 years later by the last one. The church dates back to the 10th century.
We return along the same route until we reach the crossroads where we proceed on the path to Lago di San Colombano, an artificial lake known for its elongated shape. After a 5 km walk we arrive at the point where the Leno stream flows into the lake. Now in autumn, the coloured leaves are reflected in the water, offering a marvellous natural spectacle.
San Colombano Hermitage: closed for renovation works from September 2023 (updated to June 2025)
Author: AT
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- Starting point:
- SS46 near Trambileno, bus stop "Eremo di S. Colombano"
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- Overall time:
- 02:15 h
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- Total route length:
- 6,2 km
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- Altitude:
- from 261 m to 303 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +121 m | -121 m
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- Signposts:
- Eremo
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- Destination:
- Eremo di San Colombano, Lago di San Colombano
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Hike to the San Colombano Hermitage
If you want to do this hike, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
