recommended route
The quarries that formed Trento: from Port'Aquila to Villamontagna
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Photo: (ph) Albatros © Comune di Trento, CC BY, Rete di Riserve Bondone
All of these is part of the "colonisation" history of the East hill: from the first isolated religious complexes (Capuchin and Discalced Carmelites Monastries), to the 19th - 20th century bourgeois villas, to the massive urbanisation starting from the economic boom of the 50s and 60s until now.
After leaving Port'Aquila go up to Saluga's garden, that takes its name from the river that flows in the valley after having collected Cognola's waters. The path follows the Via Crucis built by the Carmelites in the 1959, that goes on until the Shrine of the Laste with a series of niches on the walls skirting the street.
The Shrine of the Laste, which origin dates back to the beginning of the 17th century, is an interesting place. The path continues toward Coste Park that occupies the stone quarries of the "Laste delle Coste". Lava craters have been recently transformed into an urban park full of floristic and geological elements, while still keeping some remains of the old extraction activity.
The hilly itinerary, often embedded between dry stone walls and hedges, offers interesting views on the surrounding landscape that well represents the transition form the urban environment to the peri-urban agricultural areas where examples of patrician and religious architecture like the view of Toresela Seiser, the nucleus of Moià and Chiogna can be seen. To finish off the hill's landscape tour, admire the woodland at the foot of the rocky cliffs of Calmuz. It is a mixed forest with common hornbeams, ashes, manna ashes, Scots pines and other typical hill species.
After Villamontagna go to Pila's quarries, other quarry environment, partially still active and partially transformed into a park in memory of the old extraction activity.
Author’s recommendation
Track types
Safety information
The trail is completely on asphalt and doesn't present any particular technical difficulty or danger. Being it an urban trail, which has some streets without sidewalk, you must pay attention.The information on this page is subject to change, so this means that none of the indications are absolute. It is impossible to completely avoid inaccuracies, taking into consideration the rapid environmental and weather changes that may occur. Therefore, we decline any responsibility for any damage caused to the visitor. However, it is strongly suggested to check the path state, the environmental and weather conditions before going on an excursion.
The Network of Bondone Nature Reserves is not responsible for the management and maintenance of the trails. Therefore, we decline any responsibility for damages that can occur to people, animals or objects.
Prepare your itinerary
Choose a trail suitable for your training
Choose adequate equipment
Consult weather reports
Going alone is riskier
Leave information about your itinerary and the time you expect to get back
Do not hesitate to go with an expert
Mind the indications and signages on the path
Do not hesitate to go back the same way you came
In case of an accident call the standard emergency number 112
Tips and hints
"Los_Dama!": Landscape and Open Space Development in Alpine Metropolitan AreasLOS_DAMA! project (Alpine Space/Progetto Interreg)
LOS_DAMA! project (Ufficio Parchi e Giardini/Comune di Trento)
- The European project Alpine Space "Los_Dama!" (landscape and open space development in alpine metropolitan areas) focuses on many alpine cities' peri-urban landscapes, that are often degraded or poorly recognized.
Precious green areas inside and around our city centers are exposed to strong pressures and need focused actions. LOS_DAMA!'s partners cooperate in the project to protect, improve and connect these areas building at the same time a network of people and interested institutions in the alpine region.
Partners of the project are the city of Munich (Lead Partner), the metropolitan city of Grenoble, the city of Trento and Wien, the Piemonte region and the Urban planning Institutes of the Republic of Slovenian (Ljubljana) and the Land of Salzburg.
The Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) and the University of Tübingen (EKUT) also collaborate on the project; the project is being carried out in close cooperation with the Action Group 7 of EUSALP (EU Strategy for the Alpine Region) which is responsible for developing the ecological connectivity and the green infrastructure in the Alpine region.
More specifically, the city of Trento has declined its pilot activities with the aim of improving the environmental, landscape and social qualities of peri-urban areas. Know and make known the richness and potential of open spaces and natural, cultivated, ornamental and spontaneous green: that has been our commitment for three years.
We have worked to collect data and testimonies about the city's great horticultural heritage and to find out new areas where to create activities of shared cultivation and urban forestation.
We have worked to inventory and promote the network of trails between the city and the mountains in order to enhance the use of the intermediate territories by citizens and to improve the organization of their maintenance, as well as their recognition within the network of urban and peri-urban soft mobility.
Our actions within the project have developed through "exploration", "cultivation" and "dissemination" interventions in order to expand as much as possible our range of action.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
The start point is in Piazza Venezia - Port'Aquila and you can reach it taking the city buses n. 5 - 9 - 10 and C. To come back from Villamontagna take buses n. 9 - 10.
For further information go to Trentino Trasporti S.p.A.
Coordinates
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Equipment
Comfortable shoes and good company.Statistics
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