Hike to the Eremo di San Lorenzo

We undertake this hike on a beautiful Sunday in April when the first spring heralds and scents enrich the air.

From Borgo Valsugana we take the road to the Val di Sella which is particularly known for the Arte Sella, an itinerary featuring various art installations, and reach the Ristorante Al Legno and its car park after eight kilometres.

With our hiking shoes on and the rucksack on our shoulders, we follow the signposts for path SAT 210 which initially runs along a forest road. We continue on this path covered with dry leaves where we can already admire the first signs of spring and access the Val di Croce. After crossing the valley we arrive at the Bocchetta Val di Croce (1,120 m) where our path rejoins another forest track coming from north-east.

From the Bocchetta, a path with serpentines takes us to the hill the Eremo di San Lorenzo (1,185 m a.s.l.) with its ancient hermitage building. Except for the months of July and August the hermitage is closed to the public, but today we are lucky enough to meet the custodian whose family has been taking care of the hermitage since more than 150 years and who gently allows us to access the church with its precious frescoes. In the heritage you can literally feel a welcoming, peaceful atmosphere which invites visitors to pause and reflect. Time seems to stand still in this monument boasting a centuries-old history. After the visit we enjoy a well-deserved break and relax before heading to Cima Armentera.

After our lunch break we retrace the path to Bocchetta della Val Croce where we take a forest path leading uphill in switchbacks on the north-eastern face of Monte Armentera. After the first uphill section we arrive at a small clearing where a wide view of the Valsugana opens up. We continue ascending on an even steeper path to Cima Armentera and its wooden cross. Once at the summit we pause for a moment and enjoy the natural landscape around us before descending towards la Bocchetta and the car park retracing the same way.

---

From Cima Armentera it is possible to continue on the forest crest towards Cima della Stanga on an unmarked and partially exposed path. At a crossroads after Cima Stanga you take another unmarked path which descends through the forests of the Val Viscera in switchbacks after an initial, steep bend and rejoins the forest path we followed during our ascent. Although this is certainly a very pleasant version, we recommend it only to experienced and adventurous hikers as it requires a good sense of direction.

Please note: The version involving a side trip to Cima Armentera we described in this text is considered difficult. If you choose the easier path back from the San Lorenzo Hermitage to the car park without ascending to the summit (with an overall walking time of 3 hours 15 minutes and 480 m of difference in altitude), the difficulty level of the path decreases from difficult to medium.

Author: EC